I’m looking for any good tricks for fixing scratches in prefinished lacqeur trim and paneling. Sprays that I’ve used are unsatisfactory and I would like to be able to mend a piece here and there instead of sending it back for refinishing. I’m talking minor scratches that rarely break the stain, just through the clearcoat. Padding lacquer? Shellac, if so what pound cut? The stain is dark so a darkened paste wax? I do not want a shiny spot requiring me to rub out the whole piece or room.
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Try some Deft brushing lacquer. Satin or gloss.
'A little dab of Deft will do ya!' Will the brushing lacquer level off well, so that I won't have to sand or steel wool the surrounding coat much?
It levels really well, and dries fast. I'm picturing touching up little scratches with a tiny brush if I read your question right.
I would like to say they were tiny scratches but jagged canyons of clearcoat may be more accurate. However careful brushing in with an artist's brush of brushing lacquer sounds promising. More careful material handling may also be prudent but then when material arrives weeks before the drywall is finished alongside the mechanicals I deal with what I must...
Use the pens that contain stain. They look like a magic marker but dole out stain instead.Any paint store or good hardware store carries them.They come in a wide variety of colors.I'm sure Rockler , Constantine and others carry them.
mike
We do use those, but eventhough they replace the color they don't build up a sheen. In a dark environ they cover well but on a curved and paneled wall lit with accents for many thousands of $ in artwork the jagged break in the finish still shows like a beacon. Plus, in order to wipe out the excess, more than half of the stain is pulled from the scratch leaving much aas like before the stain marker was used.
Sending something back to the factory for finishing is ####drag, I agree -especially when the blemish was incurred in transit in the first place. It could happen again! Sometimes things happen after the install, making it beyond impractical. My first Lead Carpenter gig was a huge kitchen remodel with miles of cust. cabinetry, and the project manager had it delivered before demo started. We did our best, but things happen... Factory had thrown in the usual touch up kit, which was a two part epoxy and instructions to "shake well" Anyway, I could see that we were going to need more than a q-tip to achieve "perfection", so I went to a pawn shop and got a quality used artist's airbrush. Hooked it up to the job compressor, and I would like to brag about how many times I saved the day, but it's way too embarrassing how many times I needed to (I think people got careless once they saw how easily it could be fixed). Seriously, those things are easier to use than fingerpainting, and because you're using the same application method, the results are flawless. Super low volume. No- masking repairs (if you're a hot dog). The Factory guys are none too happy to help you, and would way rather let you pick their brains for advice then deal with it themselves.
I even got a desperate callback to that job after it was all over to fix a bad new ding.
Haven't sent anything back to the factory since.
p.s. If you're going to insist on being a caveman, You can do pretty decent touch ups with a women's makeup sponge and the touch up from the factory. build it up (dries quick) and feather it out in circles that's the closest you'll get to spray finish./
Great information Saul! That sounds like something I need to get. What brand name can you recommend? Will it spray conversion varnish and lacquer? How do you get the right color mix, from the factory?
Mike
Mike, just go to an art store or hobby shop and try to find a "beginner's" rig (they can get expensive). If you use a compressor on the job, you don't have to buy theirs. Just find any combination of hose/tubing to step the air supply down to what's required. a new airbrush will come with all the instructions, including pressure recommendations. I don't know from "conversion varnish", but if it's liquid, it will spray -as long as it's thinned enough. The cabinet makers should send you the touch up paint with the cabs, and this is the best because it will be the same batch of paint they used. Otherwise, call them with the "model number" of the panel/cabinet and they should be happy to send some to you.
Why didn't I think of that?!!! I have a new badger airbush setup sitiing arounf that my wife never picked up. The right finish, the correct nozzle setup and baddabing! Oh yeah, a little practice wouldn't hurt either but the control offered by an airbrush sounds exactly what I need. Great info and many thanks!! Wish me luck (guess I'll have to cut down on the morning gallon of coffee...)