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From LAWRENCE McFADDEN our premiere Stain and Finish Company |
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| Finishing Tips | |
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Step 1 Sanding |
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Step 2 Staining - Make a Test Sample Lawrence Mcfadden stains are real work savers. This one product stains, seals and even protects wood in a single easy application. Before staining, test color on an unexposed area (e.g. the back of a drawer) to be sure it is the desired depth and shade. Begin staining by applying the stain generously in a circular motion with a clean, lint free cloth or foam brush. Apply stain only at sections at a time. Do not apply stain to the entire top of a large table or to the entire side of a bookcase unit. The stain may begin to tack up and make it difficult to wipe off the residue. Remove excess stain with the grain, using a clean area of cloth. For hard to stain areas, use a small foam brush just as you would apply a liquid stain. If too dark, simply dampen the cloth with mineral spirits and rub off stain until desired color is achieved. For a darker color, apply an additional coat of stain. Allow a minimum of 4 hours drying time before applying additional coats of stain or polyurethane finishes. For best results, allow overnight drying between coats. If weather conditions are humid, drying times will be affected. Darker, heavily pigmented colors may take up to 72 hours to dry before clear coats are applied. Some lifting of color may occur when applying a clear coat. At this point you have a durable and complete finish and could stop here. |
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Step 3. clear polyurethane Application of clear polyurethane is recommended over the stain to provide additional protection against marring, and adding resistance to moisture and alcohol. To apply the clear coat, follow the same procedure as you used when applying the stain, but with one exception. In removing the excess clear coat, be sure to form a smooth pad surface with your cloth. Keep turning the cloth, always making sure it is smooth. If heavy streaks appear, either too much clear coat has been left on the surface, or your cloth surface is not smooth. Correct this by using a smoother cloth surface and stroking lightly in the direction of the grain to even out the surface. If using a foam brush, apply the clear coat as you would a paint. Be careful not to apply heavily and level out any residue with the direction of the grain. Allow a minimum of 4 hours before applying additional coats. For best results allow clear coat to dry overnight between coats. We do recommend 2 coats of clear polyurethane be applied to all furniture with light scuff sanding (read below) between coats. The more coats applied, the higher the fine gloss and added protection. |
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| About Clear coat sanding Each clear coat should be thoroughly dry and scuff sanded with 320 sandpaper before applying the next coat. For a flat surface, use a very fine sandpaper, sanding with the grain. For molding, turnings, drawer fronts, and sharp edges use "Scotch Bright" (available at most paint stores) sanding pads or 4/0 steel wool. Clean surfaces with a tack cloth or mineral spirits dampened cloth. Repeat process after each coat until desired gloss is achieved. Lawrence McFadden's clear coat polyurethane is a satin gloss finish and will not develop a 100% high gloss finish even after repeated coats. |
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| Helpful Hints 1) Mix .5 ounces of mineral spirits to .5 ounces of Lawrence McFaddens wipe-on clear polyurethane. With a 1" foam brush apply this mixture to the end grain areas immediately before applying the colored stain. This prevents the stain from being absorbed too quickly into the end grains. 2) When applying Lawrence McFaddens paint/stain colors, a painted look results when several coats of the base stain are applied. One coat of the paint/stain color wiped off will allow the wood grain to show through and will appear as if the unit being finished was dyed. |
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