Turrets Syndrome? Finishing with Tru-Oil

[glenklein]

You know... I can rebuild a Chevy 350 almost blindfolded, make concrete purdy, I'm ok working drywall, and I can work a framing hammer with the best of 'em, but...

I'll be a $#%**$! if I can get this tru-oil to lay down!

Dangit! I've never had to "fine-finish" any wood I've worked with. I can put a nice finish on a kitchen table with poly, but what the crap am I doing wrong?

I've started with my back and to be honest - the tru-oil looks awesome! The wood is really popping. When I look closely at it under different light angles, I can see these fine, almost scratchy looking marks in the back.

I tried to follow the directions on this forum for pore filling, etc. Last night I sat down with soapy water and 1500 grit sand paper and worked the back (this is after pore filling and about 6 thin coats) - that helped, but... am I expecting too much too soon?

I've got about 8 very thin coats of tru-oil on the back and like I said it's starting to really pop.

My concern is this: If I keep laying down the tru-oil, will it just accentuate the teeny scratch-like grains already showing? Am I getting ahead of myself? Does it take more patience and more coats? How many coats of tru-oil is too much?

I'll keep working it, and try to post some pics tomorrow, but can someone please advise?

Will those small imperfections correct themselves with more coats or just get worse?

Like I said - I'm not sure what to expect as I've never had to put a fine finish on wood like this.

[darren]

how far up the grits did you sand? You got to go way up there before putting down any tru oil.

[glenklein]

Before tru-oil I sanded to 220. Then I soaked the back with tru-oil, wiped off the excess, and let it sit for 24 hours.

I came back after that with tru-oil and 220 - worked the back to a slurry to pore fill. Worked it into the pores and wiped off the excess. Let it sit for 24 hours.

Sanded with 400 and tru oil again, cleaned with naptha, and applied about 6 thin coats over 2 days. Then, realized I wasn't happy last night. That's when I hit it with 1500 and soapy water. Put another thin coat on last night and one this morning.

This morning the scratchy look was still there, but maybe better. I just feel like I'm spinning my wheels in the wrong direction?

[darren]

Dave should chime in here - he's the resident expert - but I think you need to go higher, at least to 600, and then lay down more coats. I've done 12-15 coats with just scuffing with 0000 in between coats. no leveling necessary, then go right to micromesh.

[deadedith]

I sent a pm to Glen, along the same lines as Darren just mentioned.

[glenklein]

Dave - thanks! The steel wool works magic compared to sandpaper!

I'll keep working it and post pics tomorrow! Feeling much better now... ;)

[darren]

You mean I got something right? whoohoo! ;) Glad to hear its working better for ya.

I sent a pm to Glen, along the same lines as Darren just mentioned.

C'mon, Dave...share with the group...

tommy

[deadedith]

No big secret - steel wool, 00 and 0000 - I use synthetic - scuff/level with the grain, clean it up real good, apply TO, let it dry, repeat.
Along with the usual - the finish will only be as good as the prep work, and flexible finishes like TO will generally not achieve the very highest of glosses of the more brittle finishes. But still plenty glossy.

[glenklein]

Attached are a couple of pics of what I'm working with. If you look closely where the light is hitting the back you can barely see these lines.

After the steel wool, the marks are almost negligible but I can still see them at the correct angle.

I may not have enough coats of tru-oil on it yet. They're much better than before and almost look like they would rub out with some kind of rubbing compound? I'm gonna keep at it with the 0000 and will let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the help! This was driving me crazy...