I’m making a chessboard for my grandson. Maple and Walnut, more like a cutting board than a regular game board, with the individual pieces end grain up. Customer’s orders. Here’s the board prior to finishing with a Mineral Spirits test wipe.
11 Finish Test.jpg
As per usual, construction was enjoyable with no big problems. Finishing is not going well. I started with Minwax Polycrylic glossy since it is a reasonably tough finish, he wanted a glossy finish, and I like the water clean up aspect. I’m using a Purdy Syntex brush and having a terrible time getting a decent surface.
I likely applied the first coats too light and dried before they self leveled. I thinned the Polycrylic about 5% with water and applied heavier coats. I started sanding with Norton ProSand 220 between coats and moved to 400. All the dust is removed and I have a good flat surface for the following coat. The thinned coats look good when wet, no skips or gaps, no grey puddles. There is a good reflection across the entire surface with a raking light - but it dries full of brush marks.
I’m ready to sand it back down to bare wood and start over with a different product. I do not have equipment or a place for spraying, so I am limited to brush or pad application. I like the water clean up, but at this point that is no longer a primary consideration.
Any recommendations? I have good local access to General Finishes products and to a lesser extent to Waterlox products. The BORG has the normal BORG products, which is where I got the Minwax.
Thanks for your help,
Tom