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Refinishing furniture in a space that is below or above the 65*-75* F range can lead to problems, and a space below 55* F is definitely too cold. One issue caused by cold temperatures is the development of dimples in the finish called "Orange Peel".

General Finishes Arm-R-Seal

Although Arm-R-Seal rarely needs thinning because of its low viscosity, it can be thinned with up to 10% mineral spirits - more than that may thin the solids content too much.

Thinned Arm-R-Seal will be diluted but can be stored without risk of separation.

It's Woodworker Wednesday, and we're dying to make some of the awesome things in Bob Clagett's tutorials on I Like To Make Stuff! Bob's goal is to share his creative knowledge freely, in order to empower others to pursue their passions.

Orange Peel while Spraying

One of the causes of orange peel is the application of too much fluid and not enough atomization to break the product up into smaller droplets. It's similar to putting your finger over the end of a garden hose. Increase the atomization by using smaller fluid tips or a larger spray unit. See General Finishes comparison chart for generally recommended spray tips. Contact your spray equipment manufacturer's recommendations as well.

Linseed oil stains take a LONG time to dry. When applied too soon, Arm-R-Seal will likely prevent the linseed oil-based stain from gassing out and drying completely due to solvent entrapment, causing a haze.

Green mesquite is too oily to accept General Finishes ARM-R-SEAL - it will not dry properly.

Mesquite is resistant to most oil finishes, but it easily accepts shellac, oils, and waxes. We recommend shellac instead because it doesn't react to the oils in the wood. Here is a good resource to find about: properties of various wood species.

General Finishes is ecstatic to announce Number Fifty-Three as our September 2016 Blogger of the Month!

Hand Application of General Finishes Water Based Wood Stains

  • Always stir the contents well.

ROUGH, DRY SURFACE 
This is called dry spray. You may have sprayed too lightly.

Re-sand the finish with 320-grit sandpaper and apply a heavier coat. Keep your gun at 6-8" from the surface.

It is normal to see a bit of stain on the brush when applying the first coat of topcoat. Topcoats often pull a bit of color on the first pass, but good preparation will minimize this.

To prepare open grains woods such as raw Oak for a water-based stain, we recommend sanding with 180-grit followed by no more than 220-grit sandpaper.