Cherry sign - fun new technique for me

[lawrence]

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/GFS/P11403981024x768_zps596cb539.jpg (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/ldr_klr/media/Carvewright/GFS/P11403981024x768_zps596cb539.jpg.html)

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/GFS/P11404071024x768_zps3ba34823.jpg (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/ldr_klr/media/Carvewright/GFS/P11404071024x768_zps3ba34823.jpg.html)

This commission was for a 12 x 36 cherry carve with black lettering.

The finish was my first time using a lacquer sanding sealer. I have to say that I am impressed with the way that the sealer closed off the pores so that when I added ink it did not soak into the pores. The ink then came off the sanding sealer quite quickly. The stain is minwax cherry gel stain and it is topped off with 3 coats of semi-gloss lacquer.

Just wanted to share my pleasure with lacquer sanding sealer... it went on more cleanly than shellac and dried just as quickly.

V/r
Lawrence

[badbert]

Very Nice! It looks very classy!

[Smoken D]

Very nice Lawrence. I love making signs out of Cherry and using the lacquer sanding sealer. Same results as yours and a great finish.

[aokweld101]

I'm learning the painting techniques I havn't used the sealer, my way of doing the clear coat is putting one coat of poyuathane letting it dry, sanding it with 220 sandpaper and repeat for a second coat then the finish coat. would the sealer stop me from doing the three coat process?

[fwharris]

Lawrence,

The sanding sealer trick does make the painting process a lot easier to do. Not sure who first shared it with us but I have been using it for several years.

[chebytrk]

Hey Lawrence, Do you just use a cloth to put on the Gel Stain? How many coats? I'm wondering if gel stains would work ok with pine/select pine/ash/poplar. I did notice that a carving I did in ash made alot of wood (curlers.. ha) while it's carving in the machine. I thought it might be due to a dull bit so I put in a new one and it still did it. I guess it must be the ash is too soft and causes this. No big deal, just took a little more cleaning to knock of the "curlers".

[lawrence]

Thanks all- I appreciate the kind words

Jerry- I use a shop rag to put on the stain- usually at least 2 coats. Every wood reacts differently to stain/dye and blotches differently so I encourage you to just experiment until you find a technique that works for you-

Thansk again,
Lawrence

[rcdages]

Very very nice sign Lawrence.

At one point in time Lacquer was all I used for my finishes.

[ktjwilliams]

Sealers are very helpful especially when using a stain on a wood that blotches, like pine ... Seal prior to staining with a sanding sealer, sand lightly then stain.. Also keeps the end grain of wood from getting dark and keeps the color uniform all around ...