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Location: Nebraska City
(01-22-2022, 12:04 PM)woodmats Wrote: I am converting a 40 year old 4-post pine water bed frame to a regular bed frame and discarding the piedestal carrying the mattress. The surface is a litle tired and dull and needs a touch-up but the base finish is in good shape on the head/foot boards and the 2 head posts and I would like just refinish/topcoat them without stripping them down to the wood. The question is how best to do that? I'm not sure what the manufacturer used as a topcoat but you can almost make a scratch down to the wood with your nail. The side rails and the foot posts are oxidized and the coating comes off easily with 100 grit sandpaper so they get refinished completely. Luckily, Brown Mahogony Transtint Dye matches the original finish perfectly.
For the pieces that don't get a total refinish, I was thinking using the following steps:
- Clean them with soap and water
- Scuff the surface with 320 grit sand paper
- Apply, at least, 2 coats of wax-free shellac
- Finish with GF High Performance gloss.
Is this a reasonable process?
Mats
Why discard the platform?
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(01-22-2022, 12:04 PM)woodmats Wrote: I am converting a 40 year old 4-post pine water bed frame to a regular bed frame and discarding the piedestal carrying the mattress. The surface is a litle tired and dull and needs a touch-up but the base finish is in good shape on the head/foot boards and the 2 head posts and I would like just refinish/topcoat them without stripping them down to the wood. The question is how best to do that? I'm not sure what the manufacturer used as a topcoat but you can almost make a scratch down to the wood with your nail. The side rails and the foot posts are oxidized and the coating comes off easily with 100 grit sandpaper so they get refinished completely. Luckily, Brown Mahogony Transtint Dye matches the original finish perfectly.
For the pieces that don't get a total refinish, I was thinking using the following steps:
- Clean them with soap and water
- Scuff the surface with 320 grit sand paper
- Apply, at least, 2 coats of wax-free shellac
- Finish with GF High Performance gloss.
Is this a reasonable process?
Mats
Sounds like a good plan to me. One coat of shellac should be plenty, though. I would test it somewhere inconspicuous first to make sure it doesn't lift the original finish, especially if you plan to brush/wipe it on.
I think what you're noticing with your fingernail easily denting it is the soft pine underneath. It doesn't matter how hard the finish is if the wood underneath is soft. And trying to build up a hard finish on a soft substrate just increases the chance of chipping, so avoid doing that.
John