twosheds
20th March 2021, 11:09 AM
I have a project on the go at the moment which I am having trouble achieving a non streak finish over LuciClear casting epoxy resin.
Basically it is a 100mm thick slice cut from the butt of a Aust white cypress log. It is about 500mm x 700mm, contains 3 crotches and two large holes through the entire thickness. I have filled both large holes with clear LuciClear casting resin and also coated the top and bottom faces with the same to fill all the cracks and splits and other surface defects. Both faces have been sanded back to the timber surface to remove the excess epoxy. Everything has gone smoothly up until now (except I did find out how well LuciClear penetrates fine cracks and has no problems getting past the duct tape I used to seal the underside).
The problem now is getting a clear, non streak finish over the LuciClear which fills the large holes. Because they are through holes any streaking or smearing in the final finish is shown up by the light coming through the holes - in fact it stands out like the dog's proverbials.
The first finish I tried was Evolution satin hard wax oil. No good. Visible streaks and smears. Sand it off. Try home brew wipe-on poly (FW satin poly + BLO + turps). No good. Still streaks and smears. Sand it off. Try FW satin poly thinned with turps. No good. Visible brush marks. Sand it off.
What next? I now have a can of Cabots spray satin poly at the ready. But I am tired of sanding. I shall seek advice first.
Anybody who has tried to finish over clear epoxy and had success or has any suggestions.
The finishes I have already used are guite good over the timber surface portion and are ones I always use with no issues to speak of. They seem to be adhering to the LuciClear epoxy surface - it is just the streaking and smearing.
Regards
Twosheds
Basically it is a 100mm thick slice cut from the butt of a Aust white cypress log. It is about 500mm x 700mm, contains 3 crotches and two large holes through the entire thickness. I have filled both large holes with clear LuciClear casting resin and also coated the top and bottom faces with the same to fill all the cracks and splits and other surface defects. Both faces have been sanded back to the timber surface to remove the excess epoxy. Everything has gone smoothly up until now (except I did find out how well LuciClear penetrates fine cracks and has no problems getting past the duct tape I used to seal the underside).
The problem now is getting a clear, non streak finish over the LuciClear which fills the large holes. Because they are through holes any streaking or smearing in the final finish is shown up by the light coming through the holes - in fact it stands out like the dog's proverbials.
The first finish I tried was Evolution satin hard wax oil. No good. Visible streaks and smears. Sand it off. Try home brew wipe-on poly (FW satin poly + BLO + turps). No good. Still streaks and smears. Sand it off. Try FW satin poly thinned with turps. No good. Visible brush marks. Sand it off.
What next? I now have a can of Cabots spray satin poly at the ready. But I am tired of sanding. I shall seek advice first.
Anybody who has tried to finish over clear epoxy and had success or has any suggestions.
The finishes I have already used are guite good over the timber surface portion and are ones I always use with no issues to speak of. They seem to be adhering to the LuciClear epoxy surface - it is just the streaking and smearing.
Regards
Twosheds