Sanding Sealer: Why and How to use it
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Sanding Sealer (why and how):
Why: Waterborne finishes “wet” the wood and cause the wood grain to raise. Sanding Sealer helps to minimize the grain raise so that less sanding is needed. It also works to block the tannins that can bleed through the finish, causing yellowing. This is especially important if you are painting your project white or a solid color. Our amber-toned sealer also helps to enhance the warm colors of the woodgrain. Our topcoats are CRYSTAL clear, but many people are used to the “wet” darkened look that an oil or lacquer finish provides. Our amber-toned sanding sealer allows you to still create this look while still providing the benefits of a nice clear finish. Our Clear Sealer "It's Knot Shellac" is an alternative clear option that blocks the tannins in the wood to prevent yellowing. See our blog all about tannins here. CrystaLac Sanding Sealer can also be used as a pre-stain conditioner. This isn’t needed if using our gel-stain, but other stains often absorb into the wood unevenly, causing discoloration. Our sanding sealer can be used under these types of stains to give you an even coverage and colors. We also offer “It’s Knot Shellac”. This is a clear version of our sanding sealer created for if you don’t prefer the amber tint. Application: It can be applied by either brushing or spraying. Its thin viscosity makes it easy to spread and allows it to penetrate into porous woods. To start apply 1 thin coat and allow it to dry. Lightly scuff sand to remove any raised grain fibers, then apply an additional 1 to 2 coats to seal wood and provide an excellent surface that will be ready to topcoat. As a conditioner : Apply 1 coat of Sanding Sealer to the bare wood and allow to dry*. Sand back down to bare wood leaving the sealer only in the wood grain and pores. Apply stain and allow it to thoroughly dry*. Apply another 1 to 2 coats of Sanding Sealer over the dried stain. This will help to seal the stain color down and keep it from spreading. It is now ready for a clear top coat. * Please be aware that oil-based stains need at least a week to gas off before applying waterbased products over them. |