What Laquer / Polyurethane finish to use in Ireland

General Discussion
1

Hi all,

I’m new here and new to shaping and have just got my first board back from a glass job.

I’ve read some good posts on the various ways to finish after the hot coat is sanded down (I have yet to begin sanding)

but my problem is I’m in Ireland and the products you guys refer to aren’t generally available here.

Can any Irish or British shapers suggest an available product that they’ve used and liked?

Oh, it’s got to be brush-on as I have no spray gear.

Thanks,

Charlie

 

 

2

Hey mate don’t worry about the finish it’s your first board. If you want to seal it and surf it rather than admire it lacquer is the easiest solution. Faking thAt go with what the other chap suggested and go with the sanded finish. I’ve been doing more of those recently. Particularly with tints where I will sand the board then recoat with an additional layer …like a gloss coat but I just use a second hot coat with a bit more wax in styrene and take it through the grades but stop at 400 by hand. Either way is easy. You’ll be stoked whatever you choose. And by the way you’ll be forgetting this by the time you are at the 20 th board or so where you think you’re starting to get somewhere with it all. It takes time and to be honest the final finish on your first few will be so irrelevant as soon as it has wax on and you’re trying it out or sharing it with your mates. You are at the start of something that could become big in your life. My advice is to focus more on the design and the associated benefits of the journey that you’ve started rather than worry about making a board that is perfect in every way…mind you…that’s what I’m still waiting for!
Cheers
Rich
Www.thirdshade.com

3

Hey mate don’t worry about the finish it’s your first board. If you want to seal it and surf it rather than admire it lacquer is the easiest solution. Faking thAt go with what the other chap suggested and go with the sanded finish. I’ve been doing more of those recently. Particularly with tints where I will sand the board then recoat with an additional layer …like a gloss coat but I just use a second hot coat with a bit more wax in styrene and take it through the grades but stop at 400 by hand. Either way is easy. You’ll be stoked whatever you choose. And by the way you’ll be forgetting this by the time you are at the 20 th board or so where you think you’re starting to get somewhere with it all. It takes time and to be honest the final finish on your first few will be so irrelevant as soon as it has wax on and you’re trying it out or sharing it with your mates. You are at the start of something that could become big in your life. My advice is to focus more on the design and the associated benefits of the journey that you’ve started rather than worry about making a board that is perfect in every way…mind you…that’s what I’m still waiting for!
Cheers
Rich
Www.thirdshade.com

4

Anomander - sounds like you’ve decided against sand finish - on your first board why not make it easy on yourself and go for sand finish ? If the hot coat is pretty smooth you may be able to get away with 150 - 220 --320 – 400 and you’re done !

5

Another option is to use acrylic clear laquer - you can buy it in any car products shop…comes in aerosol cans - if applyed in a dust free environment you’ll get a gloss finish.
Cheers
Rich
www.thirdshade.com

6

Thanks Patrick,

I’m nervous of a sand finish because it would be my first time doing a full sand down on a hot coat and I may end up going a bit deep in spots, if this happens won’t the board soak up water and have a very short life?

Just say I did manage to sand it without going through, is the sanded finish fully waterproof?

7

Hey Rich,

Thanks for the advice, I’ve been told that it takes so long to apply a laquer finish from cans that you can’t get a good finish over the whole surface.

If you could advise me otherwise I’d be chuffed because it does sound like the surest option for me and my limited experience?

8

Thanks again Rich, you hit the nail on the head, I’m just going to spray some auto laquer on it and get it in the water as soon as I can. It’s already too late for the sanded finish as I did the 60 grit sand earlier today and went through a little on one rail.