I would like to congratulate Charles Neil for taking on the duties as Finishing Host at the "Finishing Your Project Forum".

We all know Charles, and he offered to take on the task of helping our members with the sometimes confusing area of finishing and to hopefully dis-spell allot of the myths in finishing, and to bring the world of finishing right to your fingertips.

Charles is a master craftsman in the world of woodworking and finishing, his knowledge is vast and wide, and he has a ton of resources for our folks to tap into. Have you ever just punched up Charles Neil at Youtube? Give it a try, and see all the great videos he has for you to view and learn along with. Charles owns and operates Charles Neil Woodworking.

Thank you Charles for offering up your time and expertise to our community.

And, as a side note, I would like to thank Charles for taking us up on The Patriot Woodworker's Challenge to Business Leaders. He came through, and now you will see his proud company logo in it's deserving space at the top right of our site. We still have plenty of space for more business leaders to claim and jump in with a donation of 150 dollars to The Wounded Warrior Project through our Team Page. All proceeds go directly to The Wounded Warrior Project!

 

 

Thank you Charles for joining our proud ranks of woodworkers and supporters of our service men and women, and welcome to The Patriot Woodworker's Forum Host gang!

John Morris

The Patriot Woodworker

 

Welcome aboard Charles. We are glad to have you helping out in the finishing forum.

 

I look forward to your great advice.

 

And a big THANKS for your donation to WWP.

Wow..That's awesome.. I know Charles personally..a great human being..

Here's a testiment of Charles finishing abilities that worked wonders for me..

I had just finished a big entertainment job for a lady in a very exclusive community, and after I was finished..she took me over to her living room and pointed to a very elaborate coffee table and asked me if I could refinish the top.. apparently she applied something o. It to clean it years ago and it cracked the finish like an L.A. Roadmap.. she said that the coffee table was $10,000 and she had quite a few people come out to give her an estimate only to refuse the job..basically told her they wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.. so I mentioned it to Charles Neil who told me to take the job..at first I was like.. uum. .er..ahh...I dunno.. but he insisted..so I gave her a quote and she immediately accepted..I hauled the table back to my shop and Charles had me on e mail and started me off by testing to see just what finish was on this table..anyways..to make a long story short.. Charles guided me thru the entire process which took about a full week..when the smoke cleared.. the table top was perfect..it looked like it had a pool of wet oil on it..felt like butter..a extreme high gloss..the lady, upon seeing the newly finished table..threw her hands to her mouth and gasped and said the table looked as good as the day she bought it.. I basically did a finish job that no other craftsman or finisher would take..now..I am doing a dining room table.. all because of Charles Neil..

Trust me folks.. there is non better at this stuff than Charles..

thanks, ,its nice to be here, at the momentii am in the midst of a finishing class and trying to rally the troops, to get support for the  Wounded Warrior, fund drive, but next week we will be opening up some finishing topics, on various problem issues based on many of the on going questions  I recieve , it would be great to have you list some of your challenges and lets get this thing rolling .

Hey Charles, Congrats!!!!!

 

Any idea where to get Black Lacquer coloring?

 

Thanks, Mike Dragon1

I don't know about Charles.. but I just buy the lacquer black.. my supplier carries black lacquer already to go..

Hey Randall, who is your supplier.

randall Child said:

I don't know about Charles.. but I just buy the lacquer black.. my supplier carries black lacquer already to go..

Thrilled to have you here Charles!

most all of your solvent manufactures have it, like Gemini, Mohawk, ML Campbell, Sherwin Williams, but now days I usually just dye the wood with a good black dye which I add about 2 oz of  India Ink to, its the blackest black there is, I do this because most of your black dyes are not really black but rather a dark blue, thats why they have a purple cast to them, as well india ink can be mixed into  water base, alcohol base or NGR  dyes, while it is water base it works well, on small projects you can just thin it about 50% with alcohol, ( less grain raising), or water, and use it

    Once I have the color on, I can use any top coat I want

dragon1 said:

Hey Charles, Congrats!!!!!

 

Any idea where to get Black Lacquer coloring?

 

Thanks, Mike Dragon1

I get my black Lacquer from a place in Hacienda Heights called Bill Wrights paints on Hacienda Blvd..

But Charles way is a lot easier and friendlier..the India Ink is available from a good craft store..

NO< NO< NO

 

It's not the same guys.

 

Original black lacquer is a LITTLE bit of black pigment put in clear Lacquer.

 

Then sprayed, rubbed, sprayed, rubbed etc. in multiple coats till it turns the whole peice black and has a really deep rich shine to it.

 

And no, 10 layers of clear over black isn't the same.

 

 

I don't k ow how you do your finishing.. but I just did a huge designers store..and office..all in black lacquer.. then did a follow up with an entertainment center and bookcase..all in black lacquer..it was black as coal and a satin sheen.. I used a thicker basecoat knocked down..then followed with the black lacquer made by Valspar..it was black.. deep..dark..solid..undeniable. ...black.. worked for me then..works for me now..

But all this was before Charles told me a much easier and safer way..above..

dragon1 said:

NO< NO< NO

 

It's not the same guys.

 

Original black lacquer is a LITTLE bit of black pigment put in clear Lacquer.

 

Then sprayed, rubbed, sprayed, rubbed etc. in multiple coats till it turns the whole peice black and has a really deep rich shine to it.

 

And no, 10 layers of clear over black isn't the same.

 

 I understand, did this on cars for many years, try some of the guys I listed above,to find the product, but we just agree to disagee, I like the clear over, depth , and all that, the method you are using, while excellent  is a bit old school , but like I said, if it work's for you by all means carry on, no argument from me