Hi there. Ran into some issues with a black walnut counter top I’m finishing, hoping someone here can provide some thoughts/insights on my plan to unwind it.
To provide context, I decided to use Watco DO (black walnut color) and a wet sanding application. I flooded the counter, let it sit for 5-10 mins, wet sanded with 120, let it sit for 30-60 mins, wet sanded with 120 again, let it sit overnight (slurry on), wet it down with the DO again 24 hrs later, sanded with 220, and wiped off all the slurry and finish (just finished).
There are two issues I’m encountering. First, the watco went on much darker than anticipated, so the finish overall is overly dark (lacking the separation I was looking for between sap and heartwood). Yes, likely from not wiping off the slurry the first day which I should have foreseen, but the DO didn’t seem that dark/thick. Second, I’ve got some dark mottling/patching, which I assume is just dried/stubborn DO that didn’t free up with the 220 sanding.
Right now the countertop is fully wiped down (nothing coming off when I wipe with clean rags) in my garage drying. My plan is to let it dry/cure a bit (48-72 hrs) and then sand it with 320 followed by a sanding of 600 (no more DO). My thinking is that the sanding will loosen up/remove the persistent DO and some of the top layer coloring while leaving the pore filler and penetrated stain, resulting in an overall lightening/differentiation (remove some of the top layer of the DO).
I assume I could also give it a light wipe with some thinner or mineral spirits to take off some of the DO before it cures, but I dont like the potential unevenness of that fix.
Thoughts? Other ideas? Appreciate any help.
Thank,
Rt