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Is there an easy way to repair/refresh the surface of something that's been finished with Arm-R-Seal?
A couple of years ago, I built a wedding canopy for my daughter's wedding and finished it with several coats of Arm-R-Seal. Another family member is getting married and asked to use it, but I would like to repair/refresh the surface.
When I originally built it, the timing was tight and the Arm-R-Seal didn't have a chance to cure before the wedding. Since it was assembled and disassembled on site, the pieces were handled a lot (and roughly) and have some scratches and other small imperfections in the finish.
I think that I could sand out all the scratches and imperfections with 220 grit paper and wondered if I could then just add another coat (or 2) of Arm-R-Seal. Will that work? Or is it too late because the old finish has already cured? It's not bad enough to justify removing the old finish.
Thanks,
Steve
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Your plan is good Steve. Feather out the scratches, scuff sand the whole thing, and wipe on your new coats of Arm-R-Seal. It will bond fine.
John
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Much appreciated John. I wasn't sure if the fact that it has cured would make a difference. This time it's going to cure before it gets used!
This was the first project on which I ever used Arm-R-Seal and would have never gotten done without your advice back then. It's not my favorite finish.
It's also the first time I ever used Charles Neil's blotch control stuff since I was using GF dye stain on cherry.
Thanks again.
Steve
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What is it you don't like about Arm-R-Seal? Not defending it, just curious.
John
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03-17-2017, 07:43 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-17-2017, 07:44 PM by Steve Friedman.)
At first I didn't know what you were talking about and then I saw my typo and laughed. It was supposed to read "It's NOW my favorite finish." There was a little learning curve, but it was pretty quick. The finish always looks amazing, especially if it's rubbed out after the stuff cures. I have used different abrasives to rub it out and my favorite are the Abralon pads - I think they're used for bowling balls. I have them running from 500 to 4000 grit and they're perfect. Certainly a lot less mess than pumice and rottenstone.
Steve
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Ha, that's a good one. I really like ARS, too. I have to admit, however, that it was a real challenge to apply it to a large kitchen island counter top I made a couple years ago. The only way I could get it on uniformly was to thin it about 25% with mineral spirits and apply it with a foam brush. When I did that it was perfect. For smaller projects I'm OK wiping it on straight from the can.
I also like the Abralon pads for rubbing it out; it couldn't be much easier. My only complaint about them is they don't last long. 3M's Trizac disks are far better in that regard, and you can get them for a ROS, too.
Good luck with the repairs.
John
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Thanks John,
I have never tried Trizact discs but will definitely give them a shot. I don't do near as much as you do, so I still have some Abralon pads left. But they are expensive.
Off topic, but the Abralon pads work amazingly well for making the Greene and Greene style ebony "pillows" shine. I had chucked the ebony into a drill to shape them with sandpaper. When I got close, I switched to the Abralon pads and the surface is flawless.
