On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:52:05 -0500, "Mike Marlow" wrote:


"Bill Waller" wrote in message
.. .
I am using Deft Brushing Lacquer to refinish a mahogany table top. The
first
coat appeared to go on well. The second coat developed what appear to be
craters in various places. I sanded with 320, cleaned with mineral
spirits, and
recoated. The pock marks came back.

Sounds like surface contamination. You didn't by any chance get any
silicone on the surface did you? Or any oils?


I have never used any kind of lacquer before.

Do I have to sand back down to bare wood and start over.

Should not have to as long as it's not silicone contaminated. Try to wipe
it down again and make sure to let it thoroughly dry. Maybe try alcohol
instead of mineral spirits. If the wood is well sealed at this point you
can even use a detergent on it.



Well - that may not be a bad solution to this problem. First try another
coat after cleaning it up well. If you still have problems, throw a coat of
shellac on it as a barrier coat. Then you can try to lacquer over that for
a more durable finish.

Can you post a picture of your piece over in the binaries group?

Mike, I have posted a couple of pictures of the problem on a.b.p.w.

A little more information:
The table was used as a dining table and then as a laundry table. The top and
both leaves were sanded down to (I thought) bare wood. The final sanding on the
wood was with 220, using an ROS. First coat was applied and with the exception
of some large blotchy dull spots, everything seemed fine. The second coat was
applied and the "fisheye" showed up. The surface was sanded with 320 and
everything seemed to be okay. I thinned the lacquer a little and applied the
third coat; boom, they were back.

The shop is dry, albeit a little cool: some where in the mid sixties.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no silicone in play. The WD40 is tucked
away safely on its shelf, where it has been for many weeks. I used mineral
spirits as a cleaner, because that is what they said on the lacquer can. It,
the thinner was allowed to dry for several hours and there appeared to be no
sign of it when I applied the finish.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I have read the present responses and await
any further input.

Thanks guys.