My first time restoring help needed

[SimonT]

Forgive me for being so new to all this and I am sorry if my questions have all ready been answered but as I am so new I just need help with my first project.

I was able to save a very large desk from being used as firewood (beauty is in the eye of the beholder) its been stained black and I have spent the last few nights striping it down I first used a paint stripper and then finnished off with a sander I have filled all the scratches and it very smooth. I then dusted the table down as the dust from the sanding was very fine, I kept having to pat the dust of the sand paper as it would glog it up. I then tested a small area with a new coat of a black stain (I cant rememeber the type or the make off the top of my head) but when it had dried it had bubbled in places.

I know want to know where I have gone wrong after the sanding should I washed the desk down with metho and steel wool to clean the dust out of the grain ? my guess is that there is still the fine dust in the grain and when I am staining the desk it is brought the dust up and greating the bubbling. ? do I need to apply some thing before I add start to stain the wood. The stain is a about 1 year old would that cause a problem ?

I now have to resand my test area and start again could some give me some points on what to do and where I went wrong ?

[Simple]

If you followed the preparation instructions for the stain correctly then it could be the way in which you are applying it.

I like to use a dust free cloth in which I scrunch up at one end to form a tight ball like applicator, dip this in the stain and then apply to the wood in a circular motion.

I tend to get a better result this way than using a brush and have minimal sanding between coats.

On the other hand, what type of wood is the desk made from?
Are you able to give it a clear finish to show the beauty of the wood?

Hope this helps.

Simon M.

[BrianT]

Just a coupla quick thoughts Simon.

Did you neutralise the stripper once you scraped off all the gunk?

During sanding there's a fair chance you sanded the dust back into the timber. May I humbly suggest using a tack cloth after sanding is completed - not expensive.

AND the advice as always, without any reservations, buy the POLISHERS HANDBOOK from Ubeaut

I'll stay away from advice on staining, I've stuffed up enough myself.

Regards
Brian

[SimonT]

Thanks guys sounds like a good idea that I get a tack cloth and that I look at getting a book to read up on this.

I am not sure what the wood is ( its not good enough to give it a clean finnish.

What grit paper should I finnish the desk of with before I sand ? and when I put the second coat on what grit should I rub it down with ?

[BrianT]

Morning Simon,

Re sanding - will depend on what grit you started with but in any case just work your way through each grade of grit to about 400 - that should do the trick.

Cheers

Brian @ Burra

[Mac Simmons]

Your problem was most likely 'bleed back'.
The stain, you used was probably an Oil stain on an open grained wood.
After you have stained the wood, then wipe the excess oil dry.
Then you need to watch the stain every few hours, if you see any 'bleed back' coming up from the grains, you have to wipe it dry before it hardens.
Its a common problem with oil stains on open grained woods.
I hope this helps.
Cheers
Mac Simmons

[SimonT]

hi guys thanks for you help so far all is going well ).

Things are looking good.

I resanded my desktop to a nice high grit I used a lint cloth over the top of it to find any grain sticking up. I then washed the desk top down with warm water and then dried it I then used the 400 grit paper on it and then finnished up useing the tack cloths.

I have now just finished my first coat of stain I am useing

a stain by wattyl professional wood.wattyl.com.au

its called a craftmanfinish traditional stain

it says I can apply the neck coat in 4 hours

before i apply the next coat what should i do to prepare the wood

rum down with the 400 grit and then the tack cloths should i wait longer than 4 hours as would the tack cloths take some of the stain off ?

[Shane Watson]

Originally posted by SimonT
rum down with the 400 grit and then the tack cloths should i wait longer than 4 hours as would the tack cloths take some of the stain off ?

MATE!!! I like your idea of Finishing!!! RUM!!! 

[SimonT]

lol opps type O was bing dragged out to the shops with the Mrs just check the desk and there is a little area that has a tiny bit of 'bleed back'a little gutten but its only a very tiny part of the desk.

So guys whats next what should I do to the wood before I apply the next coat ? not sure to do another coat tonight or not.... should I wait to the morning ?

[Mac Simmons]

If you wiped off the bleed back, and it is dry, then move on and apply a coat of finish...

If you did not wipe it off, and it hardened, then sand it down, and then move on.

You need to watch that the 'bleed back' does not harden, it should be wiped off, so no sanding is needed.

Good Luck

Mac Simmons