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Failed Knife

sammy

sammy

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I turned a letter opener but it got spoiled when I sprayed it with melamine lacquer. The pyrography usually separates the colours, but this time the green and yellow mingled quite badly. I'm wondering if it would be better to go down the acrylic route with acrylic sanding sealer and acrylic lacquer instead of my usual cellulose method. Any tips about preventing runs between stains appreciated.
knife.jpg
George
 
Dalboy

Dalboy

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i think we really need to know what you used to colour the handle with as this can effect what finish you use. Some are just not compatible which you have found out. Also how it was applied was it wiped on or sprayed
 
Terry Q

Terry Q

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Attachments

  • 2013-06-24 11.16.56_kindlephoto-66864982.jpg
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Phil Dart

Phil Dart

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If you're using a spirit based stain, you need to use an acrylic based finish. A water based stain needs a spirit based finish. If you finish spirit with spirit, or water with water, you run the risk of bleeding, as in either like for like case the finish is likely to dissolve the stain to some extent.
 
sammy

sammy

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Dalboy said:
i think we really need to know what you used to colour the handle with as this can effect what finish you use. Some are just not compatible which you have found out. Also how it was applied was it wiped on or sprayed
Click to expand...

Thanks Derek, I used Chestnut spirit stains on the bare wood then sprayed chestnut melamine lacquer over the top. I didn't use any sealer. I'm now beginning to think that the problem was in the staining, I put on three coats of the green to get a deep dark colour, perhaps the wood became over saturated and the last coat just sat on the top.
George
 
sammy

sammy

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Dalboy

Dalboy

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The reason I asked is already been explained by Phil so will not repeat what he has said
 
sammy

sammy

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Staffordshire
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Phil Dart said:
If you're using a spirit based stain, you need to use an acrylic based finish. A water based stain needs a spirit based finish. If you finish spirit with spirit, or water with water, you run the risk of bleeding, as in either like for like case the finish is likely to dissolve the stain to some extent.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Phil, what you say makes perfect sense now. My mistake is that I thought if you started off with a cellulose product then you followed through with the same. I guess the idea came from my first job 50 odd years ago, when I was told that gloss, oil based paint, shouldn't be used on top of water based emulsion. I will give your suggestion a whirl next time. Thanks again
 
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