Checking for scratches

I’ve used a good wipe of mineral spirits to highlight problems before finishing.

-- - The mightiest oak in the forest is just a little nut that held its ground.

moke..BinghamtonEd is right on with mineral spirits. Mineral spirits won’t raise the grain and too is a good indicator for what your project will look like with a clear finish. Another method is to use a bright (500w) light (like the type on tripod stand) with light shining as close to even with the board and perpendicular to the grain. Sight the down the board and look for shadows. It will show any scratches or other imperfections.

-- Measure "at least" twice and cut once

Moke—I’ll echo the other replies—mineral spirits works great—and it dries pretty fast. It’s also good for highlighting anywhere where you may have left a bit of glue on the wood. I’ve occassionally wiped on mineral spirits just before applying a clear finish—it deepens the colors of the wood slightly and seems to enhance the grain a bit.

-- Howard - "A bad day in the workshop is still better than a good day at the office."

.....not to mention it helps get rid of any particles of sawdust left on the wood…..

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas only 4 miles from the mill

You can also use naphtha (dries faster) rather than mineral spirits and with a raking light as has been mentioned.

-- Art

I use painters alcohol, it dries real fast.

-- Failure does not stop me, it makes me try harder..... because I'm crazy.

Good points all. Good point on the naphtha, Art. Denatured alcohol can be used as well, though it will raise the grain slightly. I’ve heard that some use acetone too, though I haven’t tried it personally. I prefer mineral spirits because everything else just dries too quickly in Texas. Paint thinner (which is just merely less refined mineral spirits) and turpentine are options as well.

The key, though, is the raking light.

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

Thanks all….Mineral Spirits and light, sounds like the best way to go. I will try to find some Naphtha though…
Mike

Moke, all of the big box hardware stores carry naphtha by the gallon.

MDS2—Thanks
I was at a Lowes and I found they had a lot of Naptha, so I bought some and tried it….it works awesome…
Thank you very much.
Mike

Geez Moke, you have been reading my mind! This has now happened to me TWICE!... in just the half dozen or so projects that my ‘WW hobby’ has produced. Great question! I ended up putting on SEVERAL more layers and sanding in between layers, to eliminate it.

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

I wipe down with some sort of solvent compatible with whatever finish I am using. I recently found out (here in another thread) raking lights make a HUGE difference. With a raker on each end of the bench, I have yet to be surprised when I wipe a piece down.

-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/KandJWoodCrafts

I use just a flaslight at differ angles turn the lights low in my shop and start lookin and sanding at the same time but really most of the time Im really asleep so its like Im dreaming

-- Stevo, work in tha city woodshop in the country

As I, and others have mentioned in this forum, a bright 500w light (raking light), does a great job to look for scratches and imperfections. You could do this each time before switching to finer grits of sandpaper. This way you know before you reach for that 120 grit, everything looks good after sanding with 100 grit. These raking lights can be used in the finishing process as well. Look right after finish sanding and right before the next topcoat of finish.

-- Measure "at least" twice and cut once

Hmike—
There is little in life that is much more frustrating than have imperfection in a finish of a project that you have worked so hard on. This happening on a couple of projects drove to not use any plywood, because it would be impossible to fix with as thin as the top layer is….so I thought I would ask the experts!!!!!

KDC68,
In 1990 I became the 3rd owner of a 50 year old Photographic Studio, which I still own and operate during the day. The basement of the building is full of old “retired” lighting equipment, so I have MANY lights I can use. I tried it Sunday and I think I have looked it all over and I am ready for stain!!!

Thanks to all for all the great advice…It is nice to have a “brain trust” to rely on!!!
Mike