Finishing a Pendant

[grz5]

I was wondering what the universal opinion was on finishing a pendant?

 

[sailing_away]

I use spray lacquer. I remove the pendant from the mandrel and hang it for spraying. While it is drying, I can start turning the next one. Quick and easy and after final sanding.

 

[alphageek]

Richard - Do you do multiple coats? I've had less than perfect results using spray lacquer, but I think thats a problem with my experience with the products.

 

[hewunch]

I use Medium CA with the lathe off.

 

[grz5]

I've seen people use a sanding sealer before using the spray lacquer. Has anyone ever tried wipe-on poly?

 

[sailing_away]

I use multiple light coats of lacquer. Usually using fine steel wool right before the final coat. I have not tried wipe-on poly yet. I've used it before on other projects and it worked quite well.

 

[grz5]

Do you apply a sanding sealer to help "pop" the grain or does the multiple coats of lacquer do that?

 

[sailing_away]

I have not tried sanding sealer yet. Several coats of lacquer seem to work quite well. I'll try sanding sealer next time.

 

[hewunch]

Not sure about this, but isn't sanding sealer basically thinned lacquer?

 

[Craftdiggity]

I use CA for my wood pendants.

 

[grz5]

how do you apply the CA? Does it help "Pop" the grain? I ask because I have recently contrast stained a piece of curly maple and I'm looking to pop the grain while achieving a gloss finish.

 

[grz5]

Decided to try dipping the pendants in poly after accidentally spraying them with shellac instead of lacquer and they turned out great! I'll find a way to put up a few pics when I get a chance.

 

[grz5]

Just a side thought..has anyone ever tried buffing a poly finish? Also how many coats of poly do people usually apply? The current finish i have on them now is 3x coats of spray shellac and 2x coats of poly from dipping them