I’m making cabinets using cherry lumber.  My finish schedule is 1 coat BLO, 1 coat garnet shellac, & 2-3 coats WB poly from Sherwin Williams.  After I applied 1 coat of BLO to 22 doors, I remembered that I did not wipe down the doors with mineral spirits before I applied the BLO.  I did vacuum the sanding dust prior to applying the BLO.  Now when I touch the doors, they feel like they may have a raised grain touch or nips from sanding dust.  None of this condition is visible nor severe.  I did use mineral spirits on the cabinet frames and there is a noticeable difference.

Do I leave well alone and spray the shellac? I always have to sand after I spray shellac.  Do I sand the BLO? And then apply another coat of BLO?  Looking for your advice.   Danl

If you have raised grain, spray the shellac and then smooth sand it. Any fibers will be cut off cleanly and locked in place by the shellac. Anytime I have raised grain (especially bad with water based dyes) I just apply whatever the first top coat will be and then sand smooth.

BLO should not have raised the grain.  But why do you apply Boiled Linseed Oil to your wood before applying shellac?  BLO take quite a long time to cure  properly.

 

Fred, thanks I will spray the shellac and scuff sand.

 

Michael, I applied the BLO to pop the grain.  Time to cure was no problem, this project has already had a birthday.  The reason I forgot to wipe the doors with mineral spirits is because time had passed and I did not remember where I left off.

 

Thank you both, Danl.

9 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis, Jr said:

If you have raised grain, spray the shellac and then smooth sand it. Any fibers will be cut off cleanly and locked in place by the shellac. Anytime I have raised grain (especially bad with water based dyes) I just apply whatever the first top coat will be and then sand smooth.

Yes, I find that shellac will raise the grain a little.  The shellac stiffens up the fibers and then sanding is called "burying the grain."   I do this instead of "pre-raising the grain" with water, drying, then sanding.  I find the latter to be a wasted step.

Thanks Keith

Thanks for explaining the use of BLO.  I have always use water based dye to color the foreground then seal with 1lb cut of shellac then stain (water or oil) to pop the grain.  Then my favorite top coat.  Poly, Shellac or Lacquer.  shellac is getting more rare and expensive.  I prefer the look of lacquer over poly but where or how the piece will be used will dictate the top coat.

 

Keith why does BLO raise the grain?

On 10/11/2016 at 4:26 PM, Michael Thuman said:

Keith why does BLO raise the grain?

The shellac raises the grain.   Alcohol has some water in it (difficult or impossible to get that last few percent out).

Edited October 12, 20169 yr by kmealy