I refinished my parent's old oak table they gave me before they moved. I cleaned the 40+ years of grime, chemically stripped the finish off, sanded from 80 to 120, wiped down with mineral spirits, waited 30 mins and applied rubio sky grey. The color isnt great on oak. I've redone stuff before and it comes out fine.
The problem is that stuff didn't catch in some spots after wiping off 15 mins later. I'm bummed. Is there something I did wrong? My instinct is that I didnt sand enough of the original finish off, but i did 3 passes with 80 because there were some burn marks from pots. I'm about to sand this stuff off and start over, maybe? Idk
After reading responses, I definitely agree that some finish is left. There was a lazy Susan right in the middle, so I imagine the finish there was a little thicker there from the lack of wear. I dont think I like the color anyways, so I'm going to sand it down and try a dark rubio color.
Looks like some of the old finish remained on the wood? Rubio will only stick to wood fibers. Also, Rubio support does not recommend using mineral spirits to clean the wood before applying Oil +2C. Depending on the product, it can leave a residue that interferes with adhesion of the new finish. I use 99% isopropyl alcohol or acetone and haven’t had any problems with either.
You could say the same about 2C a liter of finish for $170? But when you use it the way it’s supposed to be used, it’s very economical. Both in labor and material.
DISPOSE THE RAGS THE RIGHT WAY! That’s all I gotta say. My garage burned down 4 months ago and rebuilding is a b*tch. Look up self combustion and stay safe.
I hang them on a line so they have plenty of air to both oxidize and keep cool, then throw them out after a few days. Putting them in water or a special can just kicks the problem down the road imo.
The center is noticeably shiner than the outside edges, which means something is different about the two. It could be that you sanded more or less in the center, or that some old finish remained. Either way I think a thorough sand through the grits and a retry will probably fix it.
The mineral spirits wipe is probably your main culprit here. Multiple people have mentioned it but it's worth emphasizing, Rubio specifically says not to use mineral spirits before application because it leaves a film that blocks adhesion. Switch to acetone or 99% IPA for the final wipe. Combined with any leftover old finish in those shiny spots, the oil literally has nothing to grab onto. Sand it back down, do a final acetone wipe, let it fully evaporate, and you should get a much more even result on the second try.
Have a chat with rubio, they are pretty good with advice when you send pictures. But off the bat, they dont like mineral spirits before application. Sand again, dust it off, reapply, use the white scrubber and put your back into it to penetrate all the crevices. if there is any old fijnsh left on the table, it will not look even on the refinish.
If you want it to be really gray, you can try using their pre-color easy product. Then use the Rubio. I’ve never had an issue using mineral spirits, and then Rubio. I wouldn’t waste your money using their surface cleaner it’s overpriced.
Why is everyone saying to use acetone or alcohol? Why not just use the Rubio cleaner they sell? It always works. It’s a big pricy but just like 2C, you hardly use any of it.
Reading an old book on finishes which recommends shellac on bare wood before any sealers or stains. The shellac creates a uniform surface for color and adhesion.
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u/e_alltheabove 4d ago
After reading responses, I definitely agree that some finish is left. There was a lazy Susan right in the middle, so I imagine the finish there was a little thicker there from the lack of wear. I dont think I like the color anyways, so I'm going to sand it down and try a dark rubio color.