Question (WOODWEB Member) :
I've used this basic finish successfully in the past but seek to modify it slightly using a technique of which I am unfamiliar so I am looking for any tips that would help it work as intended. The basic finish is four coats of flat black enamel, with the last two coats sanded with 300-400 grit between and then four to six coats of wipe-on poly (either satin or gloss) between coats. I've found that when wear occurs on the surface, it can be quickly renewed with a light steel wool buff followed by one or two wipe-on poly coats and therefore an easily-maintained surface all-around,
The new wrinkle: I would like to add some metallic (in this case, gold) flecking prior to the poly finish coats. I've read about something called "Fly speck" finishing using a stiff brush and flicking the modification coat on, though I have yet to try it out. I was shopping for metallic oil-based enamel (like the paint used for model building) but have only found acrylic paint thus far and am wondering if there will be good adhesion between the flat oil-based enamel and the acrylic paint which is a water-based product and may present some bleed issues. Secondly, the technique itself (flicking paint from brush bristles) seems pretty haphazard though I assume some consistency might be achieved with enough practice.
Note: Spraying a metallic enamel with a pressurized can just won't create large enough metallic particles for the visual that I seek to achieve. So I am canvassing those of you who may have tried or read about something like this to discover the typical pitfalls and suggestions on how to control them. Essentially I was looking for a random metallic speck pattern similar to what an insect might make if it was walking on the black surface with metallic painted feet. The specks need not be the same size but am trying to avoid too great a variation between the smallest and largest speck sizes.
Any suggestions, article links or other navigation would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any recommendations. I've used this basic finish successfully in the past but seek to modify it slightly using a technique of which I am unfamiliar so am looking for any tips that would help it work as intended. The basic finish is four coats of flat black enamel, with the last two coats sanded with 300-400 grit between and then four to six coats of wipe-on poly (either satin or gloss) between coats. I've found that when wear occurs on the surface, it can be quickly renewed with a light steel wool buff followed by one or two wipe-on poly coats and therefore an easily-maintained surface all-around. The new wrinkle: I would like to add some metallic (in this case, gold) flecking prior to the poly finish coats. I've read about something called.
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor T:
A wipe on finish sounds like more work than needed. A water base clear sprayed on sounds faster and will do the same job. As far as the specks go, I will take a spray can and ream out the spray tip with a screw. The more you open it up the larger your flecks get. Hold the can a foot or so above your surface and a quick press and release will give you what you want. I always try it first on a separate piece of wood.
I have just tested speckling with acrylic paint but it failed. The metallic component of the paint is expressed too weakly although adhesion seems adequate. Additional coats remedy the problem but obviously is not an alternative with the speckling effect. Found some inexpensive gold flake paint with a Xylol infusion to try next although it has been documented as being somewhat carcinogenic in composition. Next will be a modified spray paint nozzle. I have experimented changing port size before, though not with paint spraying, and it can become an adventure finding the ideal hole diameter.
