Wood polishing paste: purpose, types and applications

Wood is a popular material for creating furniture, finishing coatings and household items. To highlight the beauty of the natural texture and extend its service life, proper finishing is necessary. In the review we will focus on the polishing process and current products.

Features of the technology Source shurup.ua

Application of polishing for finishing

For finishing, several methods are used, for which substances are used:

When finishing wood products, when varnish is used for polishing, a protective layer is formed that gives the surface a marketable appearance. The polishing process involves applying a special polish composition containing three times less resin than varnish. The coating formed on wood has a transparent structure and a glossy tint.

When choosing a finishing and polishing method, the type of wood must be taken into account. The most suitable types of wood for making furniture are:

Also widely used, but quite labor-intensive in processing the rock:

• oak;
• pine trees

What is polishing

Polished surfaces look much more beautiful than raw materials. The wood is given the desired shade, emphasizing the decorative nature of the natural pattern. Additionally, the wood is protected from moisture, mechanical damage and absorption of foreign odors. The products are not afraid of aggressive household chemicals and fungal processes.

For polishing, they use compounds that professionals call varnish. Using special technology, thin layers are removed from the processed material. The characteristics of the products resemble varnishes, but they allow you to obtain a more transparent, lighter coating.

Products used for polishing wood

For polishing wood, commercial establishments offer a large list of various finishing substances:

1. Shellac varnish – used for finishing furniture.
2. Alkyd varnish – used to cover parquet.
3. Acrylic varnish – used for processing wood products.
4. Polyurethane varnish - used to protect wooden products from precipitation.
5. Nitrovarnish - used for processing wooden products.

You can make a polish for polishing wood at home using certain substances:

• shellac resin - 60 g;
• ethyl alcohol 90* - 500 ml.

The manufacturing process is quite simple. Resin is poured into a glass container and filled with alcohol, mixed well, closed with a tight lid and infused until the resin is completely dissolved. Next, the composition is filtered and used for its intended purpose for polishing wooden products.

Rules for caring for parquet

• The first two weeks after laying parquet, it is recommended to start with dry cleaning using a vacuum cleaner or hair brush, removing dust from the surface. After two weeks, you can switch to wet cleaning with a soft cotton cloth and special detergents.
• exclude the use of abrasive materials , the use of hard objects, aggressive agents such as alcohol, solvents, dishwashing detergent and others.
• furniture that is installed on parquet must have special felt pads or rubber caps for the legs; if the furniture has wheels, it is better to choose ones with rubberized wheels in order not to damage the parquet.
• Natural wood parquet does not like moisture , so if water spills on the floor, it must be removed immediately. The penetration of water into the joints of the parquet can lead to deformation of the floor covering and the appearance of gaps at the seams between the planks.
• At the entrance to the room, it is recommended to lay a mat for cleaning soles and have replacement shoes, this will help prevent the spread of dirt from the street.
• periodically update the additional protective layer of the floor covering and give it shine using a special product - parquet polish.

Polishing technology

The wood polishing process is carried out in several stages:

1. surface grinding;
2. applying primer;
3. polishing;
4. polishing.

Surface grinding

The sanding process is not particularly difficult, but it takes a lot of time to give the wood the desired look. The wood surface intended for finishing should not have burrs, chips, cracks or other irregularities. To do this, the tree is processed in 3 stages:

• sandpaper No. 46-60;
• sandpaper No. 80-100;
• sandpaper No. 140-170,

until the surface becomes smooth and glossy.

Polishing with abrasive material

Sanding is done with a wooden block wrapped in sandpaper along the grain of the wood. After sanding, the surface is wiped with a dry, clean rag, moistened with water and wiped with a dry rag again. A pause is maintained until complete drying for 2 hours and processed with sandpaper No. 120-140 until the remaining wood fibers are completely removed. If necessary, the operation is repeated several times until the wood is given a glossy finish.

Read also: How to make a table for a workshop

Application of primer

The priming process is carried out using a special swab by applying varnish to the wooden surface. The tampon must be made of linen fabric (does not leave fabric lint).

All work processes are performed in the following sequence:

• the swab is impregnated with varnish and with its help the entire surface of the wood is treated until a uniform coating is formed;
• a pause is maintained until the varnish is completely dry, sanded with fine-grained sandpaper and wiped with a clean dry rag;
• apply an additional 2 layers of varnish;
• a composition is prepared consisting of 1 part polish and 1 part varnish, which covers the entire surface;
• The wood is dried for 2 days.

Polishing

The polishing process consists of applying polish to wood and is performed in the following sequence:

• A small amount of vegetable oil is applied to the linen swab for better glide over the surface being treated;
• Using a swab moistened with polish, carefully wipe the entire surface;
• the processing operation is carried out 3 times with pauses after applying each layer until the polish dries completely;
• the wood is treated with fine-grained sandpaper and wiped with a dry rag (after each time the polish is applied).

Guitar Body Polishing

Polishing

In order to polish the wood to an ideal state, working operations are performed several times until the desired result is achieved.

The following work is carried out:

• the wood is treated with fine-grained sandpaper dipped in vegetable oil;
• A small amount of vegetable oil and polish is applied to the swab and the entire surface is treated (the operation is repeated several times).

When carrying out polishing operations, when varnish or polish is used, it is necessary to follow the entire technological process to create a durable, smooth, glossy finish on the wood. If you have certain skills and appropriate substances, you can finish wooden products at home.

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Posted by kds77, November 15, 2007

Stages of work

The wood polishing process consists of several stages. In order for the surface to look perfect after polishing, it must first be sanded, then covered with a layer of primer and only then thoroughly polished.

Surface grinding

This procedure does not cause any particular difficulties, but it takes a lot of time to give the tree a perfect look.

The surface must be free of chips, burrs, cracks and other defects. First, the wood is treated with sandpaper No. 46-60, then with abrasive material No. 80-100 and finally sanded with sandpaper No. 140-170.

After sanding, the wood becomes clean, smooth, without protruding fibers or lint .

Padding

At this stage, the prepared wood is primed using shellac polish and a linen swab . It is not recommended to use cotton or wool fabrics for these purposes; they leave behind small fibers and lint, which are clearly visible on the polished product.

To apply the primer, put a small amount of polish on a swab and begin rubbing in different directions. With this approach, small cracks and pores are most effectively filled, and impregnation occurs better.

Note! First, make a smear on a test surface. The polish should dry quickly and not form bubbles. If there is a lot of it, then the excess is removed by wiping the test surface.

The primed product is left to dry for 2-3 days . After the varnish has dried well, it is necessary to sand the wood with a fine-grained abrasive material. The resulting dust is removed with a rag.

Chic, shine - beauty

What can and should be polished, with what and in what way are exciting questions for those who want or are forced to take up this difficult but fascinating task. Polishing wooden products - brand new walls or a restored countertop - performs an aesthetic and protective function (see also the article “Underlay for a wooden floor: purpose, types and installation features”).

Read also: How to weave rubber bands on a loom for beginners

Pros and cons of varnish

Take a closer look, you are surrounded by many things made of wood, the treated surface of which shines or glows matte:

decorative crafts;

From knight to queen - everything is varnished

decorative cutting boards, spoons;
• walls/floors;
• furniture;
• laminate (there are also such fans).

But polishing wooden products is not always appropriate and safe, this includes:

• spoons, if they are intended for food and not decoration;
• kitchen knives - a very smooth handle is more difficult to hold, and if dropped, the decorative layer will inevitably crack;
• gun stocks (for the same reason).

The stock is impregnated with linseed oil

Finishing agents

The choice of varnishes is huge and each of them has its own specifics:

• luxury furniture is coated with alcohol - their price is high, the most luxurious varnish is shellac;
• alkyd – wear-resistant, used to cover parquet;
• acrylic – fragile, requires re-application;
• polyurethane and alkyd with the addition of fungicides are good for outdoor use;
• water-soluble are remarkable for the absence of harmful fumes;
• solvent-based, resistant to detergents, but does not ozone the air;
• oil - cheap, “healthy”, but gives the surface a yellowish color;
• nitro varnishes dry the fastest - from 15 to 25 minutes, give a strong shine and are very durable.

A few words about wax

As already mentioned, the use of varnish or polish is not always advisable - for dishes and children's furniture it is better to use drying oil or wax paste. It’s great that it’s not difficult to prepare wax paste at home, and the main ingredient can be bought from “honey cakes” at the bazaar.

The wax paste can be made liquid or solid at will, depending on the amount of turpentine - solvent. In the classic version, the components are mixed in a 1:1 ratio. The wax is heated in a water bath, but a microwave is also suitable, then turpentine is poured into it with constant stirring until a homogeneous consistency.

Note! The procedure for preparing the material yourself at home will require increased safety measures. Be sure to have ventilation and no sources of fire - turpentine has a pungent odor and is highly flammable.

Wax and almond oil in a 1:1 ratio

If you choose any oil as a solvent, you will get an absolutely harmless substance, suitable for treating even children’s furniture. The proportions will be slightly different: wax and olive oil – 2x6/8; with jojoba oil – 1:3.

The manufacturing instructions will be slightly different:

• grate the wax;
• mix with oil;
• heat and stir.

Wood polishing wax is used to restore color on old items and enhance it on new ones, as well as to remove worn stains. If you add orange or jasmine essential oil at the mixing stage, a magical aroma will linger in the room for a long time.

Using polishing paste

Original polishing pastes perfectly remove not only circular scratches, but also so-called holograms. A decent polishing paste will do a great job on weathered varnish, insect residue, tar, and nasty oil stains.

Thanks to professional polishing, the car body acquires a protective wax layer, thanks to which the car will become much less dirty.

• The strength of an abrasive paste is determined by the amount of abrasives (solid particles): fine polishing paste has the smallest amount (and may not contain abrasives completely), and coarse abrasive paste has the largest amount.
• A low-abrasive paste can be applied by hand; a coarse abrasive paste will require a polishing machine and polishing wheels.

Three, screwing, varnishing

Polishing different types of surfaces - untreated, painted or varnished - has its own nuances. You will definitely need special substances and devices to achieve good results. In general, the process involves applying several layers of varnish, followed by drying and sanding each but the last.

Read also: Borax flux how to use

Sand each crevice

A job done brilliantly

Before polishing varnish on wood, you need to prepare polish, pumice, a swab/velor roller (ideally a spray gun), and denatured alcohol.

1. Polish is thickly applied to a dry varnished surface with a swab and polished with pumice until shiny.
2. After 3 days of drying, a second layer follows to level out roughness and is left to dry for 5 days.
3. The third portion of polish is applied.
4. Polishing with alcohol is carried out to a mirror shine.

Old beautiful furniture definitely needs, if not repair, then restoration of the varnish layer, which is wiped out and becomes covered with bald patches.

The restoration process includes the following surface treatment steps:

1. Removing the old varnish layer using ammonia, denatured alcohol, turpentine or other solvent.

Note! Polishing varnish after painting involves the use of toxic substances - do not forget to protect yourself as much as possible. Don't neglect gowns, gloves, goggles, and respirators or gauze dressings.

Health comes first

1. Processing with coarse and then fine-grained sandpaper.
2. Rub in the filler (in a circular motion).
3. Treat with stain several times, allowing each layer to dry completely.
4. Direct polishing of varnish on wood - with wax, varnish (in several layers, each is dried, sanded; do not sand the last layer).

Technologies from time immemorial

I wonder how, in ancient times, woodcarvers, carpenters, and architects managed to preserve their products from moisture and drying out? The secrets of distant ancestors have survived to this day and naturally fit into modern production.

It has long been known how to polish wood with wax, which gave the product a soft, calm glow and was guaranteed to protect it from the vagaries of the weather.

The waxing procedure looks like this:

1. The material is applied to the wood with a cloth or brush.

1. The wax dries out slightly.
2. Rub it in until the grains disappear.
3. Final polishing with a clean cloth until shiny.

There are no problems with wax - scoop it up and rub it in

The second way to polish wood without harm to health is to use natural drying oil, the main component of which is linseed oil. It is simply rubbed in until it stops being absorbed. It does not give shine, but protects the surface, making its color more saturated (see also the article “OSB on a wooden floor: preparation and installation of the coating”).

Feature of wood pulp

Wood pulp is classified as a raw material that is used to create furniture decorations. It is able to maintain the quality and texture of natural wood. The finished products look luxurious and attractive.

Externally, they cannot be distinguished from natural ingredients. The material has a soft texture that allows it to be shaped into different shapes. For work, special rollers and a press are used.

The finished parts are durable. Most often they are chosen to decorate cornices, doors, window openings and furniture paraphernalia.

How often to renew parquet flooring with polish?

The frequency of treating parquet floors with polish depends on a number of factors that affect the performance of this coating, among which we can highlight the following:

• protective layer material. Parquet oil is considered a natural product and penetrates deeply into the pores of wood, but it protects the surface less effectively and more often there is a need for polishing this type. Unlike oil, varnish creates a film on the surface, thanks to which the floor remains protected for a longer time, but it loses its shine during use, and preventive maintenance with polish is also necessary.
• intensity of load on the coating. This factor shows the wear resistance to mechanical loads of the floor covering. For example, if you like to rearrange the furniture in your apartment or often receive guests, then the polishing or sanding procedure will have to be used much more often.
• room dimensions. The area of ​​the floor covering affects the choice of product and the most optimal option for its application.
• price. A high-quality product is not cheap, but when doing the work yourself, it comes down to costs only for the material. When ordering a service from a specialized company or a private master, the amount of costs is determined by the contractor. In any case, this procedure will require money and time.