Turrets Syndrome? Finishing with Tru-Oil

[deadedith]

Adding some more finish to it will help with the scratches. It looks very nice.

[glenklein]

Thanks Dave... I'll keep at it with the tru oil and 0000 - post new pics in a few days.

[deadedith]

I blew the pictures up as far as I could, and I think you might want to try some 00 or 000 over those scratches to save yourself some rubbing time. I would do it before adding more oil. Just enough rubbing to remove those scratches. This will leave finer scratches but all going in the same direction. Then make sure the entire back is at the same level of dullness, then use your 0000 to get a finer scratch pattern, then start with the TO again.

If that sounds like gobbledegook, let me know. I haven't had any coffee yet this morning so my brain is like a sieve...:-)

Dave

[glenklein]

Ok - will do... thanks for taking a closer look!

[Ben-Had]

How many coats have you got on so far?

[glenklein]

How many coats have you got on so far?

I've kind of lost track now... I'm guessing after switching to the steel wool method, I've got about six additional thin coats. I put it on super thin though.

Keep in mind that after pore-filling I took it down to almost bare wood again out of frustration and then posted on here. Prior to getting to steel wool I had at least six thin coats on. I then tried to buff it out with 1500 grit and that was too much.

The steel wool knocked it down nice and it sounds like I just need to get it built back up again. I'll get there, but the learning curve is kickin' my butt.

Here's another view (prior to pore-filling the sides)...

[Ben-Had]

I usually end up putting 8-12 coats on but I'm sure I smooth some of those off in the process. The key for me and how I do it is to get the wood to a super smooth finish, up to 2000 grit or higher. With other finishes you only go to 220 to 320.

[glenklein]

The key for me and how I do it is to get the wood to a super smooth finish, up to 2000 grit or higher. With other finishes you only go to 220 to 320.

Just to be sure, I take it you mean before applying any tru oil?

I should've started that way when I made the decision to use tru oil. I didn't because I had seen the other posts talking about adhesion problems... not realizing at the time, there aren't any finish/adhesion problems with tru oil. I'll know better on the next build.

[deadedith]

Right - I don't believe sandpaper needs to be used on the TO at any point. I've talked to the folks at Birchwood-Casey on a number of occasions and they are adamant concerning the use of steel wool only once the TO is applied.
Perhaps, after a good curing time - a couple of weeks or so - some 1500 grit and a lubricant could be used to try for a higher gloss. I have not tried that.

[Ben-Had]

Yes I meant sanding the wood up to 2000 BEFORE the true oil goes on after that I use 0000 between several coats and polish with micro mesh pads (about the last 5 grades wet). Dave may have another polishing method.