Need Your Help with ML Campbell Stain and Red Oak

[Ruben]

Hi Folks,

We are doing a Staining Job for 6 Columns and some Light trays that were all veneered with Red Oak.

We are trying to achive an extremely smooth finish without the Deep Red Oak grain being indented. Are there any pre fillers that can be used to fill the grain so it isn't indented and the finish is all the same level?

Or, do we have to keep shooting the clear and sanding it down with a block until it fills the Deep grains?

Our Finishing Process is going like this...

First we Sand the Veneer with a 120 Grit and then we sand it with a 220 Grit.

Then we Remove all dust off the veneer and then shoot 2 100% coats of ML Campbell WoodSong 2 Microton Spray stain (WS2 M307 Red).

After the Stain drys we Shoot 3 coats of ML Campbell Magnalac Precatalyzed Lacquer (C144 14 Satin-35).

Between each Lacquer coat we sand with a 220 and leave the 3rd coat unsanded.

The Result is real nice as far as consistency but the Deep Grains of the Red Oak Veneer are not filling up the way we want. We even tried sanding the crap out of the veneer before shooting the Stain to Smooth it out some and it pretty much just lost that dark color grain it had.

Also, I attached a picture of a color we are trying to get. The ad for the speaker says the Finish is Rosenut. But the Rosenut at the local Stain place is really brown looking. We are trying to acheive a Deep Red with a black grain. Any Ideas?



Thanks Guys
Ruben

[Termite]

The problem may be the fact that you are sanding with 220 grit, that stuff is coarser than the grain in most timbers. You might as well be rubbing it down with a brick.

When I want a finish I usually sand to 1200 grit minimum.

[Ruben]

The problem may be the fact that you are sanding with 220 grit, that stuff is coarser than the grain in most timbers. You might as well be rubbing it down with a brick.

When I want a finish I usually sand to 1200 grit minimum.

I am talking about the deepness of the grain of the Red Oak. Not Scuffs from sanding. We were using a Coarse Sandpaper to try to knockdown the non grain parts to be even with the Grains.

Problem I am having is the Grain is not filling up after 3 coats and sanding.

Thanks
Ruben

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I dunno about Red Oak in specific, but as far as I know oak, in general, has very open pores. If that's what you mean?

If so, then yes there are grain fillers you can use. I don't know of any truly clear ones though, the ones' I use all affect the final result in one way or another.

You could possibly get away with staining a filler to match the grain colour you want; this'll take a bit of time, experimentation and a few scraps. But that'll probably be true whatever you do.

Doing a search here on "grain filler" should give you more info than you want.

[Ruben]

I dunno about Red Oak in specific, but as far as I know oak, in general, has very open pores. If that's what you mean?

If so, then yes there are grain fillers you can use. I don't know of any truly clear ones though, the ones' I use all affect the final result in one way or another.

You could possibly get away with staining a filler to match the grain colour you want; this'll take a bit of time, experimentation and a few scraps. But that'll probably be true whatever you do.

Doing a search here on "grain filler" should give you more info than you want.

THanks ChiDAMN. Just so more people understand me I attached a picture of the Red Oak we finished. If you look at the reflective part on the right side you will see the indented grains or "open pores". I just want to fill these up without so much labor and without losing the black grain you see in the picture.

[echnidna]

Use lacquer based sanding sealer.
You shouldn't need any more than say 3 coats rubbed back between with 120 t0 160 grit.