Scandanavian + marine varnish

[Ed wood]

Hi all,
I am using a very easy to apply finish of mainly Scandanavian oil (Feast Watson) plus a little bit(-10-15%) of marine varnish plus 5% turps.
You simply apply with a rag then wipe/buff (by hand) off after about 2-3 min (depends on ambient temp) or once it starts to go tacky.
I sand to 400 first.
I am using it on Jarrah.
I only apply on sunny days with low humidity.
What I have noticed is that sometimes the feel is a bit rougher than when i initially finished sanding it to 400.
So i am wondering
1) Is the grain lifting
2) Can I sand with a higher grit after the finish has dried completely to give a smoother feel
3) Do I need to use a wax or another type of product on top to give a smoother feel.

I have only ever applied 5 coats , but I am pretty sure another 5 or so coats would pretty much fill the grain entirely perhaps due mainly to the varnish content?

I have heard different things about steel wool here and among other woodworkers I know and the consensus seems to be to only use it on "filled" grain tops to avoid any catching of the wool which can be virtually impossible to remove and give discolouration once it oxidises.

Any advice greatly appreciated
Cheers
Ed

[bookend]

Is the surface furry or lumpy? I've had both.

I have found that a quick wipe is a good wipe :rolleyes:. Leave enough finish on the piece after wiping so that if you stood it on edge, it would do an English cricket team (ie no runs).

This has worked for me at getting rid of furriness. I tend to appIy the second coat with scotch brite too. I haven't used wax over it but I can't see why not.

Another thing that can create a rough finish is bits of your rag or paper towel, in the wiping off stage, ending up in the finish. The more the finish has dried (gone tacky) before wipe-off, the more likely this will be. Apply the next coat with scotch brite and pick the bits up straight away.

My apologies if I've said anything too obvious.

[ubeaut]

Sand to 600 grit, wipe the surface down with warm water or methylated spirits then when dry a give the surface a wipe over with 800 grit to remove the raised grain. Then try your mix. This should fix the problem.

[Ed wood]

Thanks for the tips guys.
Ed