I used the General WTF finish for the first time on the Copper Handled Pitcher posted a week or so ago. I commented then that I wanted to do a piece with a high gloss finish to see how WTF performed. While the satin finish on the pitcher was a good fit, I like a gloss on many of the pieces I turn. I have been fairly happy with WOP, but we are all looking for the perfect all round finish, I think.
Let's just cut to the chase and say - I have found my "go to" finish!This stuff is fantastic!
This is a piece of Claro Walnut that didn't have a lot of figure, but had some beautiful color. When I cut it round, it showed some season cracks that were filled with CA. Dimensions are about 6" x 3". The form is compliments of my mentor, fellow moderator and good friend, Steve Schlumpf! I wanted a form I could do quickly, as this was really about the finish, not the turning.
I rarely keep time on a piece. Mostly, I am not sure I would want to know, and I am fairly certain Bill Wyko doesn't want to know on his pieces either!!But, on this one, I really wanted an idea of how quickly I could do a piece - start to finish using WTF.
This was completed over 3 days, simply because of available time slots. It took 45 minutes to turn the form, about 20 minutes to sand it and lay on a couple coats of shellac. hollowing was about 45 minutes - 1.25" hole makes a HUGE difference vs. a 7/8" hole! Sanding the interior, reversing and turning off the bottom - another 30-40 minutes.
The finishing went like this - applied 5 coats, the first of which dried in about 6 minutes. Bear in mind that I had optimal conditions - 80* (yes, 80*! - rare for March 18), low humidity, sunshine and a slight breeze. I was outside. Additional coats dried as quick as I could apply them - 15 minutes for the first 5 coats. I immediately dry sanded with 1200, and applied about 6-7 more coats. Dry sanded again with 1200, taking care this time to really level the finish. Immediately Triple buffed at 850rpm with Tripoli, WD, and Ren wax. About 1.5 hours for finishing, and just over 3.5 hours total!
Claro walnut was a good test for this finish. It is very open grained and I often have difficulty with WOP filling the grain - it seems to avoid the pores. The WTF filled exceptionally well. In fact, I think another 4-5 coats and this piece would look like it had a full "grand piano" lacquer finish. The clarity is exceptional, and it has a good feel.
The only "con" is that it dries so quickly, it simply does not level. Perhaps in a different environment - cooler, more humidity, no sunshine, etc., things would be different. However, when I did the pitcher, it dried nearly as quickly then. I didn't find this to be a problem, however, as is sands great with 1200, and it can be sanded immediately. By that, I mean immediately - as quickly as I went back inside the shop and got a piece of sandpaper!
The shellac base helped in many ways. It filled the pores a little, and was an initial sealer that allowed the first coat of WTF to lay on the surface and dry very quickly.
Thought you might like to know my findings! I didn't really post this as a "turning project" thread, but you are welcome to comment as desired.
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Bernie Wieshapl got my head thinking on this finish with his comments a few months back........I like it because of two reasons..........it has a nice finished look first and foremost, and it dries quickly........
