Went to IKEA (8.30 pm Monday night - if you have to go, go then) with
nearest and dearest, bought desk we both liked. Got it home, checked
the parts, disposed of the packaging, stacked it ready for assembly...


Subject of changing colour of said desk arose.

So, deep breath, can anyone recommend a method of darkening (thank God
it's darkening) the desk. It's solid pine, stained and finished with a
clear acrylic lacquer. I would like to avoid sanding the damn thing.
Can I just apply a coat of darker acrylic lacquer to it? Does
pigmented acrylic lacquer exist?

Yours with gritted teeth.

David

wrote:
Can I just apply a coat of darker acrylic lacquer to it? Does pigmented
acrylic lacquer exist?

Coloured varnish exists, but IMO it always looks pants. The colour is un
natural and if it chips or scratches the original colour shows through.

Dave

david lang wrote:
wrote:
Can I just apply a coat of darker acrylic lacquer to it? Does pigmented
acrylic lacquer exist?

Coloured varnish exists, but IMO it always looks pants. The colour is un
natural and if it chips or scratches the original colour shows through.

Dave



I think you need something with a strong solvent to attack the lacquer
sufficiently to get it to bond. Briwax original comes in various shades
and should do just that.
Personally I'd sand it down (easy enough before assembly) and use a
tinted varnish, but dark colours usually look awful on pine because of
the flowery grain pattern.

Thanks for the advice so far. I gave Briwax a ring and he said that
this might work, depending on the cunning technologies used by IKEA.

Any other suggestions from the wisest of groups?

wrote:

Subject of changing colour of said desk arose.

So, deep breath, can anyone recommend a method of darkening (thank God
it's darkening) the desk. It's solid pine, stained and finished with a
clear acrylic lacquer. I would like to avoid sanding the damn thing.

Put it somewhere sunny and soon enough the tuit fairy will fix it for you.


--
David Clark

$message_body_include ="PLES RING IF AN RNSR IS REQIRD"

Strangely enough, the tuit fairy must have caused a change of heart as
the desk is now "OK". So, crisis averted, but at least this is in the
archives for the next time. The nice man at Briwax also advised the
sunny option, but as we live in deepest darkest Cheshire, this is not
really possible. Maybe me the missus and the desk should go on holiday
somewhere sunny...

Thanks again

wrote:
Strangely enough, the tuit fairy must have caused a change of heart as
the desk is now "OK". So, crisis averted, but at least this is in the
archives for the next time. The nice man at Briwax also advised the
sunny option, but as we live in deepest darkest Cheshire, this is not
really possible. Maybe me the missus and the desk should go on holiday
somewhere sunny...

Thanks again


It'll soon go that dark orange sauna bath colour

On 14 Sep 2005 01:49:28 -0700, wrote:

It's solid pine, stained and finished with a clear acrylic lacquer.

You _sure_ it's acrylic ? If so, then a quick scuff-sand with 00 wire
wool and new acrylic glazes (coloured varnishes) will stick to it fine.

Briwax uses toluene as a solvent and is noted for better stickability
than other coloured waxes, hence its popularity amongst the
orange-skinned barrow-boys. But I still wouldn't expect a mere wax to be
a particularly persistent colouring over the top of a perfect new
finish.