Hey all!
So this was my first time finishing a piece of wood. Ever. Here are the steps I took. In even my limited retrospect, there are of course many issues.
1) Sanded wood with 120, 150, 180, 220 with a mostly OK random orbital sander my father has. The dust collector doesn't work so great and I didn't clean the sheet that often so that probably lent to issues.
2) Applied a linseed oil finish. Wood just kept sucking it up.
3) Consulted with a friend, proceeded with a 50/50 Miniwax quick dry poly high gloss and linseed oil mix.
4) Applied three or so coats, and with at least one of them I did not sand inbetween. Even when I did, I used the 220 again.
5) After letting it set for a week, I started attempting to rub out the finish. I started with 600 sandpaper and did a wet sanding. T
Then the problem displayed itself! As is common with a non-flat finish, there were some ares of the finish that weren't buffing out and were staying super high gloss. I attempted all manner of fixes for this, starting with abrasive pads, moving to steel wool, then up to higher grit sandpaper. The effect still presents itself.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ag6fbkpcstmvsxb/IMG_20140917_220651.jpg?dl=0
So - I'm not sure if the issue is on the top of the finish, or some of the oil I originally applied seeping to the surface under the finish... no clue. It presents as a sort of fish scale effect across large portions of the wood.
Request: I'm trying to get a "quick fix" for this. I want a transparent but non-glossy finish that will protect the wood, as I will be using it daily as a desk. I am LOTHE to strip the finish off and start again. I'm not even sure I have the time and tools for it. Could I just apply a final layer of satin or semi-gloss to provide an even finish and buff it in a few weeks?
Regards,
Jesse