How to Avoid Fish Eyes in Wood Finishing Projects (Get Rid of Fish Eyes Video)

[@backpacker57]

Fantastic. Just what I needed to know to fix this serious problem Ive had. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and helping me resolve this problem. Perfect.

[@MLCampbellfinishes]

You're very welcome, glad it was helpful!

[@mtoboekid11mouse88]

I'm just getting into woodworking, and while my first project miraculously went really well, I just the other day found a desk in a dumpster that was in really good shape other than the finish. I don't have access to a full woodshop, so I did what I had done to my first project - which was to refinish without stripping, using a poly that claims to be meant to go over old finish. I tested the finish on this second piece to make sure I could use ply over it, as I had researched and learned that it's only ok over old poly and shouldn't be used over shellac, laquer, or older oil finishes like Danish oil. I found that what I had was in fact some kind of poly - none of the thinners I tried in spot tests came up with any tackiness. So - I sanded, wiped it down, sanded again, and then cleaned the whole thing thoroughly with Naptha to try and make sure there wasn't any oil on the surface and that it was good and clean. I've only done the very top part, as the desk can't be taken fully apart so I'm doing it based on which surfaces are flat in each position, and I'm noticing some small fisheyes forming along the grain of the wood. So - If I let this cure fully and then put a second coat, will I still get fisheyes in the second coat? The reason I ask is it is a tinted/pigmented poly that is not clear, so if I can use the first coat as a sealant, sand it, wipe it again with Naptha or even denatured alcohol to get it good and clean, and then put on a second coat, do you think that'll even out and come out without fisheyes? Thanks in advance!

[@mtoboekid11mouse88]

Oh also just to clarify - when I sanded, I mean by hand, as I don't have any power tools - apartment life and all that. Which is also why I purposefully don't pick up projects that would require stripping, as even outdoors on the stair landing and with a paint respirator mask, the chemical smell in the air lingers a bit and don't want to subject the rest of the apartment to that. There's no one currently on my floor, so that helps, but still - not willing to have anything stronger than Naptha without a proper shop and ventilation and disposal areas. As it is I got a couple containers from the hardware store for rag disposal, but they're little and portable and not that ventilated other than just being outdoors.

[@douglassloan6831]

Thank you so much for this. I was literally driving myself insane trying to figure out why just one area of my project was riddled with fisheye every time I attempted to spray. Turns out the Silicone from a mold being made in the shop was transferred to a small part of the surface and that's what was causing it. Phew! Off to get some Vinyl sealer!

[@MLCampbellfinishes]

Glad it helped!

[@tikikiki146]

@@MLCampbellfinishes i used some caulk on the seems of my kitchen cabinets before i primed with my sprayer - can this cause fish eyes? or did i thin with too much water ??

[@paullampru3591]

Mr. Campbell, I am trying to create a football field charcuterie board. I used a green water based paint for the field, acrylic white pen for lines, vinyl numbers, and peel off bumper stickers for team logos. Given the variety of surfaces, I’m deathly afraid of fish-eyes when epoxy resin is used to seal the board. Question: What should I use to cover this board before apply epoxy? Does it need to be sand papered before applying epoxy or once dried it is epoxy ready?

[@godzillaninja1644]

Can you spray post cat finishes (Klearvar) over the vinyl sealer?

[@davidhaynes4626]

Am I messing up by spraying lacquer over oil based primer?

[@D65STANG]

I think you're right we have a lot of Diesel drivers and lot of people cook barbecue around here maybe that's where I'm getting my Fish eyes Not to mention a lot a yard workers with those Weed whackersThanks for pointing this out

[@MLCampbellfinishes]

Glad that helped you out Dottie, hopefully you'll invite us round for barbecue next time :)

[@westonwoodbury3011]

What’s a good Vinyl sealer you would recommend?

[@MLCampbellfinishes]

Hi Weston, it would really depend on your application. We have a Quick Dry Vinyl Sealer (available in SL as well) and a Water White Vinyl Sealer. Both have excelling hiding and sand great.

[@frankcrawford416]

Can I use paint thinner to clean a previously old varnished finish. I have about 20 areas I repaired. The wood was splintered on this Stickley bench. It needed alot of work. I am match staining these areas to match the rest and then re polyurethane. It has intricate carving and stripping the whole thing may ruin the areas I had to fill with wood filler. Thanks

[@MLCampbellfinishes]

So, that really depends. Old varnish may be a number of things, our advice would be to try a small area with a paint thinner or a lacquer thinners. In all cases, use extreme caution as they're both very flammable and we wouldn't recommend using either in an area that isn't well ventilated and free of ignition source.

[@jeffstancell6097]

Recently I've encountered fisheyes when refinishing tabletops. I completely strip and sand to remove the old finish. I apply an oil based stain and oil based polyurethane . I assume the problem is from silicone furniture polishes being applied over the years. Can polyethene be applied over a vinyl sealer ?

[@MLCampbellfinishes]

Hi Jeff, we don't recommend putting Polarion over anything but Polarion.

[@mattmidway21]

Would a can of spray shellac cause fish eyes? I know part of my problem was the proximity of my air compressor to my spray surface but I had also started with a coat of spray shellac from zinsser

[@MLCampbellfinishes]

Shellac in itself should not cause fish eyes. The dried coat of Shellac should be sanded and cleaned before application of next coat.

[@bca2070]

Possibly water or oil from air compressor into the finish m