Decided to try out Rubio Monocoat for a new coffee table top because a single coat sounded great. New top is two pieces of 3/4 red oak plywood glued together and edge banded. Thankfully, decided to test out on a scrap piece first as the results didn't go well...
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I sanded (120, 180), vacuumed, 1-3 coats of Aquacoat grain filler (pictured is three coats), sanded 220 after grain filler sat for an hour.
1. No wood conditioner, Chocolate color
2. Old Masters wood conditioner, Chocolate color (spread with plastic spreader tool then staining pad then scrub pad on ROS; sat for 10 mins and wiped off)
3. Old Masters wood conditioner (forgot to sand before Rubio), Walnut color (used staining pad, no spreader tool)
4. No wood conditioner, Walnut color
I fear that I sanded too much on this before all the finish so it cannot soak into the wood. I fear even further that I've done the actual top to 320 already and is smooth as a baby's bottom.
From the image, does it look like I've sanded too far before the finish?
Is it possible to open it up again before applying the finish so it can soak in better?
Side question, one of the spots on the edge banding has bubbled, would it be bad to take an iron to it again to try and get it to reglue and stick?