Step By Step Instructions To Get A Mirror Finish On Wood
One of the conventional ways if you are looking to get a mirror or glossy finish on the wood is to use a method, popularly known as French polish, which primarily consists of rubbing on layers of shellac. However, this method is time-consuming, and due to the stickiness of shellac, it can be complex & complicated. An effortless method is to rub down an already hardened finish, including a varnish or lacquer. Lacquer is considered as a non-curing finish similar to shellac as compared to varnish, and due to the reason that it dries quickly, you can layer it more easily in comparison to varnish, which makes it extremely easy to get a glassy-smooth finish.
Items Needed
- Aluminum Oxide Sandpaper; 150-, 220-, 320- And 400-Grit
- Dry Cloths, Wood Grain Filler & Paintbrush
- Plastic Paint Scraper & Lacquer Or Varnish
- Spray Equipment Or Paintbrush
- Silicon Carbide Sandpaper; 400-, 600-, 800-, 1000- And 1200-Grit
- 4F Pumice, Cotton Buffing Cloths & Power Buffer
Step By Step Instructions
- Sanding: First of all, sand the bare wood as needed in order to smooth it and get rid of the old finish. Perform the sanding process by hand-sanding using 150-grit aluminum oxide sandpaper, but make sure to go with the grain of the wood. Wipe & get rid of the sanding dust with the help of a dry cloth.
- Fill The Grain Of The Wood: Fill the grain of the wood using an oil-or water-based wood grain filler. If the wood that you are working on is an open-grained variety, like oak wood, then this step is more important, however, it will make it easier to achieve a mirror finish on all varieties. Put or spread the filler with the help of a paintbrush, scrape it flat using a plastic paint scraper, and allow it to dry for several hours. Sand it flat by hand using 220-grit sandpaper, making sure to go with the grain of the wood.
- Spray One Coat Of Lacquer Or Varnish: Now, it is time to spray one coat of lacquer or varnish. Wait for it to dry tack-free, as lacquer will take at least 20 minutes to dry, on the other hand, the varnish may take one to two hours. Sand the lacquer or varnish by hand using 320-grit sandpaper and remove the sanding dust.
- Apply Another Coat Of Varnish: Spread one more coat of varnish. If you are spraying lacquer, then spread two more coats, sanding the first one before you apply the next. Let the varnish or lacquer dry for one day, then level-sand using 400-grit sandpaper in order to get rid of bumps and imperfections. This will help you give a smooth substrate for the finish coats.
- Apply A Wet Coat Of Varnish: Put or spread one more wet coat of varnish. If you are using lacquer, then spread three more coats, sanding each one using 400-grit sandpaper before you apply the next. Give the finishes time in order to fully cure before you rub them. Lacquer takes about a week, on the other hand, the varnish will take at least two weeks.
- Wet-sand The Surface: Now, wet-sand the surface with the help of silicon carbide sandpaper, using water as a lubricant. Start with 400-grit paper in order to knock down gross imperfections, before sanding the entire surface using 600-grit sandpaper. Rub as long as the surface shows a uniform dull sheen. Repeat the procedure using 800-, 1000- and 1200-grit sandpaper.
- Sprinkle 4F Pumice: Finally, spray 4F pumice on the wood, & sprinkle some water or rubbing oil on it, before buffing up the finish with the help of cotton cloth. It is easier to get a full gloss finish with the help of a power buffer as compared to if you're hand-buffing.