Stand Top Restoration...Gloss or Satin?
10-17-2013, 07:52 PM
#1
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Stand Top Restoration...Gloss or Satin?
Further to the Singer 31-15, today I sanded the table top and gave it a coat of Minwax "Golden Oak".
I had been planning to proceed with a few coats of gloss poly varnish but got to thinking that Satin might be a better choice. Might make for a better work surface.
The photo really washed out the stain color - or maybe I need another coat but I don't want to make it too dark.
Open to suggestion...
I had been planning to proceed with a few coats of gloss poly varnish but got to thinking that Satin might be a better choice. Might make for a better work surface.
The photo really washed out the stain color - or maybe I need another coat but I don't want to make it too dark.
Open to suggestion...
10-18-2013, 07:59 AM
#5
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Oh this topic has been the kindling of many a flame war even among friends :-)
I've used shellac on various surfaces but I've never been happy with it as a table top finish.
I find it lacks durability and resistance to scratching etc..
I've used shellac on various surfaces but I've never been happy with it as a table top finish.
I find it lacks durability and resistance to scratching etc..
10-18-2013, 08:36 AM
#6
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OK, NO flame here but do you realize that the 130+ year old treadles we have today are/were done with Shellac and that the paint used on the machines was basically a mix of pigment and shellac?
Tough enough for me. (BTW - I use spray paint on machines as well as shellac/pigment, and I use modern stains and poly sealers also)
Tough enough for me. (BTW - I use spray paint on machines as well as shellac/pigment, and I use modern stains and poly sealers also)
10-18-2013, 08:36 AM
#7
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Lew, I'm with you. I like shellac, but if I use shellac on a table I always finish the top with polyurethane. To your original question, I like satin on counter tops as it gives a "softened" touch. I think that would be great on your industrial top. Gloss is too "harsh" for me to work on for extended time.
Last edited by Vridar; 10-18-2013 at 08:37 AM. Reason: Spell checker had Lew as Les
10-18-2013, 08:41 AM
#8
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OK, NO flame here but do you realize that the 130+ year old treadles we have today are/were done with Shellac and that the paint used on the machines was basically a mix of pigment and shellac?
Tough enough for me. (BTW - I use spray paint on machines as well as shellac/pigment, and I use modern stains and poly sealers also)
Tough enough for me. (BTW - I use spray paint on machines as well as shellac/pigment, and I use modern stains and poly sealers also)
I'm sure my experience with shellac hinges on it being contemporary pre-mixed (Zinser) shellac not old school mix your own flakes and alcohol. The latter may well be way more durable than what I've used , but I'm not inclined to get into the alchemy of rolling my own :-)
Last edited by Lew Schiller; 10-18-2013 at 08:44 AM.
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