HELP!!!!! I Need a Mirror Like Finish

[johnlimburg]

Hey everyone.

I just completed making a chessboard drawer set for my HSC and was wondering the materials and techniques i would need to use to get a high quality finish which would appear as glass or as a mirror on the top.

The timbers used were cheap merbeu (dark timber) and mixed australian hardwood (light timber).

Any andvice would be greatly appreciated

[Manuka Jock]

I gotta ask , Why a mirror finish ?

[Master Splinter]

There's a two-part pour on gloss sold in Bunnies, usually near the crafts section. Mix, pour, let it set and you're done. If you can't find it at your local big green box, try here.

[China]

Rustins Plastic Coating, very durable and can be buffed to a mirror finish, remember the better the finish on the board the better the result will be no matter what coating you use

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I'll second the Rustin's. It's easy to apply and is a very durable finish.

Good call, China!

[RossM]

Quick word of advice -

PRACTICE FIRST!!

As China mentioned you need to have a really good surface to start with, as this will help with the final result. But try it out on some items that are not so important before you commit to your HSC project!

[chowcini]

why not coat it with you prefered finish and then get some 3-4 mm toughned glass for the top? it will look good and protect the playing surface

[johnlimburg]

thanks for all the ideas guys, i will look it to all of the methods suggested

[Lyle]

Something I have done successfully several times is to make a dust free box.
I find a cardboard box big enough that when a side is cut out it will slide over my job. Cut the top off - this becomes the door.
Then before I do the finishing I spray the inside with a fine mist with a squirt bottle and drape a moist rag over the front/door. Left for a half hour or so the dust settles inside and none will settle on the job.
When I have the job finished I slide the box over the job and drape the moist rag - door, over the front. It creates a dust free environment inside, until the job finish sets.
Sounds complicated but is very easy to do.
Note use a fine mist as you don't want a water laden environment which may interfeere with the finish.

[Harry72]

why not coat it with you prefered finish and then get some 3-4 mm toughned glass for the top? it will look good and protect the playing surface

Thats what I would do... use glass if you want a glass shine plus its way more hardy and scratch resistant than any finish ever made

[Manuka Jock]

Thats what I would do... use glass if you want a glass shine plus its way more hardy and scratch resistant than any finish ever made

And a hellofalot easier to refinish when the time comes

[jimbur]

Assuming the mirror-like finish is for displaying your skills and not necessarily for toughness then (to me) the most attractive way is french polish. It's cheap, relatively easy to pick up the skill necessary for a simple flat surface and is completely reversible in the case of mistakes.
Cheers,
Jim

[Manuka Jock]

yeah , thats true