Satin Black Lacquer Finishing


Tom Cancelleri

Recommended Posts

I've been commissioned to build a coffee table for someone, and they want it to be a satin black finish. Obviously it's gonna be an HVLP finishing project. I'm going to say satin black lacquer. Table will be built from hardwood ply and poplar. 

Any recommendations on the paint for the finish, or any finishing tips?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Depending on budget you might consider maple instead of poplar.  I have a friend that does museum quality picture frames.  He uses clear high quality maple almost exclusively for painted frames because it takes paint so well.

www.metroframe.com is his website.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Whatever finish you use get some compatible sanding sealer. Have it tinted black if possible. Clear tinted black is best. Spray then block sand 220 first coat and inspect with a raking light to find the flaws to fill . Repeat as many times as needed sanding 320 before you put the first top coat on. As soon as you see the sandpaper loading scrub it off with a gray abrasive pad.

Claims that a top coat can be used as a seal coat are LIES ! Sanding sealer scratches easily and doesn't load your sandpaper rapidly. Finish coats are not supposed to scratch easily and they clog sandpaper quickly. 

I use a water bourne finish but the same process is good for solvent finishes.

I use 90w equivalent LED outdoor rated spotlights in those swing arm architects lamps to provide a raking light for inspection. It takes a ton of light to see the flaws in black base coats. But they show up en masse as soon as you spray a coat of satin ! Hordes if you spray gloss !

Maple is better, harder and tighter grain. Even the slight difference between poplar & maple could save a coat or so of sealer. Ugly colored maple is perfect for this use. Curly or ambrosia are a very bad idea !

I sand the bare wood to 220. The first coat of sealer will raise the grain and stiffen it so it cuts off cleanly & easily. Very slightly break all sharp square corners and edges. The finish will flow around the corner, sharp edges the finish pulls back due to surface tension and this makes sanding through to bare wood very easy.

Check out my Floating Shelves Project Journal to follow the process in white.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Who's Online   2 Members, 0 Anonymous, 30 Guests (See full list)

  • Forum Statistics

    31.2k
    Total Topics
    421.7k
    Total Posts
  • Member Statistics

    23,756
    Total Members
    3,644
    Most Online
    FaithMoody
    Newest Member
    FaithMoody
    Joined