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Vent: A client in Asheville said my finish looked 'plastic' and it stuck with me
About a year ago, I was refinishing a walnut table and used my usual three coats of a high-gloss poly. The client took one look and said, 'It's well done, but it looks like plastic, not wood.' I was kind of annoyed at first, but they were right. I started thinning my final coats more and rubbing out with 0000 steel wool and paste wax instead. Now I aim for a softer sheen that lets the grain talk. Anyone else shift away from that super glossy look after some feedback?
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jade_hernandez2mo ago
Honestly I still love a deep gloss on walnut, it makes the grain pop like crazy. I use a spray lacquer and buff it to a mirror finish, and my clients eat it up. That plastic look can happen if the film is too thick, but a thin, hard finish just looks rich to me.
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vals382mo ago
Gloss can look amazing when it's done right.
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michael8951mo ago
Thin your final coat way more than you think you should. That's the trick I learned after getting the same feedback. A little patience with the rubbing out step makes all the difference.
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