Varnishing Soundboards

[David Love]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
I've always used spar varnish.  I like how it looks.  In this case I =
modified the technique given in the article a bit.  I sanded first to =
220.  Then a diluted the varnish 1:3 with turpentine, saturated the =
wood, sanded it in with 320 and wiped off the excess.  Then I brushed on =
a heavier coat and let it dry as normal.  Afterwards, I sanded in one =
more coat using extra fine 3M synthetic steel wool and wiped off the =
excess again.  I just finished this coat and though it leaves a really =
nice feeling surface, it is not the glossy finish that one would have if =
you brushed the final coat.  It is somewhere in between satin and gloss. =
 Rather nice actually.  But the jury is still out.  I may brush on one =
final coat if I decide I want the glossy finish.  There is something =
about a glossy varnish finish on an old board that has a real richness =
that I like.  I just hate trying to work so dust free in my small =
production shop.

David Love
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: bases-loaded@juno.com=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: January 10, 2002 5:34 PM
  Subject: Re: Varnishing Soundboards


  Hi David -

  A couple things come to mind...

  There are numerous wiping oil blends (or make one yourself) that can =
incorporate wet sanding, but have a longer "open" time, giving you more =
leeway on something large like a soundboard.  Surely, a soundboard =
doesn't require marine-level (spar) protection anyway....  In Jeff =
Jewitt's "Hand Applied Finishes" he gives an example of one part tung =
oil, one part mineral spirits, and one part Waterlox transparent finish. =
 You sand the wood to 320, apply a wet coat to the wood.  Wait 20 =
minutes, then wet-sand the finish with 320.  Wipe off the excess.  Allow =
to dry at least 24 hours, and repeat process, this time with 600 paper.  =
Repeat til you get the build you want.  Sounds like it might be a more =
forgiving finish for a large surface.

  Also, with all the sanding going on, and if you want to use spar, why =
not just brush it on like usual, and sand out the inevitable dust and =
rub it out to the desired sheen?  Seems like less sanding overall and =
likely less hassle.

  Just a few thoughts on a rainy Thursday eve...

  Mark Potter
  bases-loaded@juno.com


  On Mon, 7 Jan 2002 22:00:37 -0800 "David Love" =
<davidlovepianos@earthlink.net> writes:
    There was a very interesting article in this month's Fine =
Woodworking magazine that discussed a method of using spar varnish for =
finishing furniture.  It involved sanding the varnish into the wood in =
successive coats using finer and finer sandpaper.  The sanding created a =
kind of slurry which acts to fill the grain of the wood.  The excess =
varnish is then wiped off and allowed to dry before the next finer grit =
is used on the subsequent coat.

    I have always liked using varnish on soundboards for its durability =
and look, but have found it a bit of a headache because of the time it =
takes to dry and the problems with dust.  This method supposedly avoids =
that and creates a rather lustrous finish.  Has anyone tried this =
method?  Any comments.  The article mentions that for large surfaces you =
may want to use two people. =20

    David Love


---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/68/35/0e/cb/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--