2nd Build SHB-4

[Simon Barden]

That does depend on how well the stain has penetrated the wood.

[blinddrew]

Ah, internet problems, just picked this up.
I'm sure it will be fine....

[blinddrew]

Well it turns out I'm actually waiting on some more sand paper as, in my hurry, I'd bought the wrong pack from Amazon. On the positive side I now have shed loads of really fine stuff.
But anyway, on the principle that I need to do a bit more sanding before I put the grain filler on, and then more sanding again afterwards, I thought I'd see how the stain was going to work out on this wood.
Bearing in mind Simon's advice above about grain popping, I did do a bit of a wash with some dark ink but just to darken the overall colour as I prefered that on my test stick:


Then first coat of red - bit wishy-washy, not really the wine-red I was looking for:


Second coat, that's a bit more like it:


I'm not going to go any further for now but I'm comfortable that this is going to give me the right kind of shade.

[blinddrew]

So, grain filler. That's interesting stuff isn't it?
Tried using a spatula at first (as suggested on the tin) but gave up and used my fingers after that. Suspect it may need another coat.
Anyway, sanded to 320 and grain filled:

[blinddrew]

Working back up through the grades. Up to 180. Wouldn't normally bother with a photo at this point but as I was sanding this I was reminded of those old muscle anatomy diagrams you used to get in textbooks:

[jugglindan]

Yes, it does take me back to the old Tortora anatomy textbook. Or as I used to call it, the Torture textbook.

[blinddrew]

Torture Textbook, i'll remember that.

[blinddrew]

Quick 'wipe on poly' question to the experts, how many coats between sanding normally?
Cheers

[Simon Barden]

What about sanding strangely?

[blinddrew]

That comes with the territory.
Ok: normally, how many coats between sanding?