Finishing Question - Sanding Sealer

This probably is not the time to ask this question. I should have posted BEFORE I cut my project.

Anyway, I did a project using pine.
My thoughts were that I would put on a coat of sanding sealer first, then carve, the spray paint, then sand off the paint from the uncarved surfaces. I figured the paint would stay in the vcarves after sanding.
WOULD THIS PROCESS WORK FOR ME. At this time, I only carved and have not painted. Should I spray paint or use a small brush to paint the carves and then sand?

Should I have used more than one coat of sanding sealer?
Should I have used another product instead of sanding sealer? Lacquer or shellac for instance?

Any help would be appreciated. I really should have tested this before carving. But in reality, this is only a test but it did come out really good so thought I would ask.

1 Like

Sanding Sealer works well, I like to use it before I stain my wood. It helps to reduce blotches.

I suggest you watch this video as it will do much more for you than I write up a How to.

2 Likes

Before going much further, I would do a test. The paint may want to creep along the grain where you have carved, and so no matter how much you sand, there will still be ‘bleed’.

You don’t need much, just a strait line that goes across the grain of the wood.

If it does creep, a coat of sanding sealer after the VCarve may do the trick. Just make sure to get rid of any excess, compressed air would be the way I would tackle that.

2 Likes