Solid White Finish on Wood Furniture

The white color is quite popular in the wood furniture finishing. White is the color that bring Compared with other solid colors, the white color is the most widely used. White is a neutral color that impresses the cleanliness and neatness. White color can be combined with almost all colors with a good coherent combination. White color on the wood furniture is also used many, either alone or in combination with other colors. There are many type of white color that can be applied on the wood product. The white transparent color, or the white wash, the white finish that still show the grain and pores pattern of the wood and the solid white color that totally close the wood substrate. 

At this article i want to share the finishing process to make solid white color finish. The close pores white finish, the white paint that cover and kill the grain and pores of the wood. 

There are many options of finishing processes and materials can be used to produce the white finish but the basic step is as follow: 

step panel for white solid color

1. Filler

2. 1st Base coat, touch up  

4. 2nd Base coat
5. Enamel
6. Top coat

• Filler application

Filler application is intended to fill the wood pores and grain to produce a close-pore finish. Apply wood filler evenly, then wipe it clean. Let it dry, then do a good sanding to obtain a flat and smooth surface. Wood filler is needed as the first step in the wood with big pores and grain, such as teak, oak, mende, mahogany, etc. For more information about wood filler, you can read our previous article: wood filler for wood finishing. If the wood used has no pores and grain, then filler is not required. If the wood has small pores and grain, such as maple, ash, pine, etc., you can close the pores by sealer application. You can use the catalyzed sealer, such as AC or PU, as the base layer. The PU or AC sealer is also recommended when you use M.D.F. as the substrate. If you do with flat-form products, the UV sealer can be used. UV selaer can build te thick coating layer and close the pores and grain faster and cheaper than the other coating.

•  The first base coat application

White base coat or white paint is a stain to make the solid white color. The white base coat will form a white layer of film that will cover the wood underneath. Apply 2 layers of white base coat by spray to the overall surface evenly. Let the base coat layer dry, and then check the wood surface and color result.
In the first base coat application, usually the white base coat cannot cover the wood base color. In the first application of the base coat, usually all the wood defects and imperfections of the unfinished wood can be viewed easier. The gap, holes, crack, and sanding problems, such as scratches, chatter marks, and sanding marks, are more visible on the coated wood. 

Do touch-ups and corrections to the defects and imperfections. Fill the gaps, cracks, and holes with putty; if the gap is too big, we can insert piece wood. The scratches and sanding mark or chatter mark must be cleaned up by the sanding process. Sand the base coat with # 240 or # 280  grade sandpaper to clean all the defects and putty excess to make a smooth and even surface.

• The second base coat application.

After the sanding, then you can apply the second base coat. Apply 2 layer base coats by spray-wetting evenly. Let it dry and do sanding. You need to apply the base coat and sanding until a smooth surface and even color are obtained.
Usually you can get the smooth and even color surface by two times base coat application in this step.

•  Application of enamel

Enamel is a top coat that is mixed with pigments. The enamel is almost like a base coat, but it can produce a more smooth surface. The enamel works as a top coat, but it has color inside. The enamel should be applied when the base coat layer is already flat and smooth with even color. Apply the white enamel by spray to the entire surface. Let it dry and do sanding to the enamel.

• Application of top coat

Top coat is the last layer that serves as the last layer that will provide protection against the finishing underneath and simultaneously form sheen for the finishing. If you have applied enamel that acts like top coat, then you can continue with a flow coat application as the last coat. Flow coat is a top coat that is cut a little bit to make better film flow.

 

Some things that need to be considered in the solid white finish

• A white color finish needs a clean room and equipment.

The white color is very sensitive to the dirt and stains. The brightness of the white color will make the stain or dirt clearly visible. You need a clean room and equipment to do the white finish. If you have a finishing job with white color and another color, such as brown, black, or another stain color, then you better do it separately. Avoid doing the white finish and other color at the same time in the same location.

• The white color is very sensitive to the color changes in the film built.

The white color is very sensitive to the color changing in the film built. The color of the film layer will affect the finish and could change the final color of the finish. The thicker film and the stronger film color, the more color changes. The yellowing process in the NC clear coating will highly influence and change the finishing color. The other type of clear coating will affect differently. The AC clear coating and precatalyzed clear coating usually have a slightly reddish color. The regular PU clear coating will turn yellow as NC clear coating.
To minimize the color change, you have to use the non-yellowing clear coating. The non-yellowing clear coating is a special coating that has better resistance to the UV light. The non-yellowing clear coat are butyrate lacquer, acrylic lacquer, non-yellowing PU, or acrilic water-based coating.