Cheap and cheerful means finishing your own Dodd faceplate

S Clark · « **on:** 2 Dec 2011, 02:08 am »

Although there lots of guys here at AC that do fantastic work with wood, I decided to try to put a high gloss finish on my own Dodd faceplate. Years ago I had finished several gunstocks with good results using Tru Oil. After finding a nice burled bit of mesquite in my firewood pile, here are the first pics.

Here it is raw.

This is with a 3 coats of thinned sealer, and one coat of Tru Oil.

You can see that it is still several coats away from filling pores, but you begin to see what the gloss will look like. 10 more coats to go!

HAL · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 03:08 am »

Scott,
That is looking really good!

S Clark · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 03:59 am »

Thanks, Rich. I've taken a lot of that oil off with steel wool and put on another coat. It's already building gloss. Hopefully after a many more coat, it will begin to add depth. I'll post more pics in a couple of days.

Scott

SlushPuppy · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 05:27 am »

I love the look of mesquite. Even raw it looks nice

S Clark · « **Reply #4 on:** 3 Dec 2011, 04:23 am »

Another day, another 2 coats. More of the pores are vanishing and the gloss is building. Still many more coats to go.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Dec 2011, 04:12 pm »

Do you sand between coats with this product?

S Clark · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Dec 2011, 05:44 pm »

Absolutely. Most of the gloss that you see in the previous photo has been taken off with #0000 steel wool this morning. When the next coat dries, even fewer pores will show and the gloss coat will be even smoother. In the meantime, thin layers are building that adds to the luster and depth.
The beautiful thing about oil, is that it is completely idiot proof. You rub it on with your fingertips to evenly cover, set the item aside to dry. The first coats dry really quick- 30 minutes. As they build, it takes longer as each coat softens the undercoats. This next coat is about the 6th. I'll put it on after lunch and not sand it until tomorrow afternoon. The before sanding the next to last coat, I'll let it dry for several days and sand with only very light pressure- just to lightly scuff- before adding the last gloss coat.
I'm sure there are better ways to do this, and I haven't done this in probably 35 years, so I may be forgetting a step. But so far, it seems to be working pretty good.

Scott

S Clark · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Dec 2011, 06:00 pm »

I guess that I should have described how this was done.
Start by sanding to a 400 grit level. If you have a small glass bowl, great. If not, cut the bottom out of a small plastic water bottle. Whatever plastic they use will not dissolve in naptha (lighter fluid) or Tru Oil. In this case, I mixed about a 1/2 tsp naptha with 1/2 tsp of sealer and coated the frontplate generously. The naptha thins the sealer and carries it deeper into the wood. This also means that you will need extra coats to seal. I used 3 coats, with the last coat having no naptha. I probably could have used more, but I knew that the Tru Oil would also fill the pores eventually.
After using the sealer, lightly sand and start the Tru Oil coats. For the first several coats, sand most of the oil off (you are still filling pores). Finally, fewer and fewer pores are left. Eventually, after sanding lightly and holding the piece at an angle up to a strong light, you will see no pores in the dulled surface. That's when your ready to finish up with a final coat that dries to gloss. It take a bit of time, but no major commitment. You just have to put it away and leave it along until each coat dries, but we are talking a day or two. Start to finish, it takes a week-10 days. Oh yeah, if you screw up, just sand down that last layer and redo it. Idiot proof!

Scott

S Clark · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Dec 2011, 08:25 pm »

I've lost track exactly how many coats I'm at, but I think 9. Regardless, at this point, 99% of the pores are filled, and it's more about how the last coat happened to lay. Although there are a couple of flaws if you hold it up to the light and look just right, I think I'm finished for now. The beauty of oil finish is that I can buff with steel wool and start right in on another coat at any time.

There are a couple more photos in the gallery if interested.

gld · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 Dec 2011, 09:14 pm »

Scott, nice work! That looks real nice!

Gary

bluemike · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Dec 2011, 11:28 pm »

Hi Gary
How are you feeling ?

It's good to see you back on the forum postings

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 Dec 2011, 12:23 am »

That's looking good now. Quite frankly, I was a little unimpressed with the early photos, it looked pretty uneven, but thought it best to reserve judgement. (I did ask about sanding between coats) I'm glad I kept my trap shut and waited, it really looks splendid now. You get a great looking faceplate and I don't have to eat crow for supper, everyone wins.

cody69 · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 Dec 2011, 12:34 am »

Agree... Looks nice. BTW, how did you do the lettering?

WGH · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 Dec 2011, 01:36 am »

Quote from: S Clark on 6 Dec 2011, 08:25 pm

Although there are a couple of flaws if you hold it up to the light and look just right, I think I'm finished for now.

The secret code of a true professional - Quit while you are ahead. The "last coat" is tricky, for me it becomes the "next to last coat".

Looking real good Scott.

Wayne

S Clark · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Dec 2011, 05:53 am »

Thanks guys. I'm happy with it, especially since it's been so long since I've done anything like it.
The lettering was done by the Man himself, Mr. Dodd. However, a trophy shop should be able to do something very similar if it's a hard wood.
... and if Wayne likes it (and nobody does mesquite like Wayne), it MUST be time to stop with the extra coats!

Scott

srb · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Dec 2011, 03:57 pm »

For me, ultra-gloss looks too much like plastic, and a super-fine synthetic steel wool pad buffing becomes the final coat (step) that makes wood looks more like wood.

Steve

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 Dec 2011, 04:03 pm »

Looks great...............oops, you missed a spot!

Quote from: WGH on 7 Dec 2011, 01:36 am

The secret code of a true professional - Quit while you are ahead. The "last coat" is tricky, for me it becomes the "next to last coat".

Looking real good Scott.

Wayne

S Clark · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Jan 2012, 08:33 pm »

And here is the final result- not quite up to Ruben's standards, but not bad for po' folk. Shot outside sitting on my BBQ pit.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Jan 2012, 10:07 pm »

Sexy.

Hey, where's your snow?

Cheeseboy · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Jan 2012, 10:21 pm »

It's MIA along with our Nor Cal rain.