Finishing a Water Based Lacquer

[Segovia]

I am about to purchase an RX90 orbital sander, I will use it for sanding but I also want to use it for finishing water base lacquer. I called Festool this morning but they were not much help. 

I have established that the MPA5010 compound combined with the orange pad will be used for the final finish, if it isn't glossy I can experiment with the next level up on the compounds. 

What preparation would be necessary before the compound application,  MPA5010 claims to remove 1500 scratch marks and Festool's only 1500 grit is the Granat. I was planning on using the Platin 2 which is more like pads. Any suggestions would be a great help. 

 

[tiralie]

I am about to purchase an RX90 orbital sander, I will use it for sanding but I also want to use it for finishing water base lacquer. I called Festool this morning but they were not much help. 

Why have you chosen the RO90 Vs. the RO 125 or RO 150? Are you only polishing a small area? Or is sanding your priority? The RO 90 will work fine, it is just a bit small.
An interface pad reduces the edges removing too much finish.

I have established that the MPA5010 compound combined with the orange pad will be used for the final finish, if it isn't glossy I can experiment with the next level up on the compounds. 

What level of gloss do you want to achieve, mirror like? If you want a very high gloss >85 sheen, you will more than likely need to use the finer compounds.

What preparation would be necessary before the compound application,  MPA5010 claims to remove 1500 scratch marks and Festool's only 1500 grit is the Granat. I was planning on using the Platin 2 which is more like pads. Any suggestions would be a great help.

I would recommend plantin2, over Granat. The plantin2 will hold a little bit of moisture from the compound or light spray of distilled water which helps in the polishing process.
Most polishing compounds require sanding up to 1500 or 2000. It is not necessary to use a finer grit than that if you are planning to use a compound. A misting of water or a damp sanding pad works well. Too much water is not recommended.
It is not recommended for the inexperienced or first time user to polish water borne "lacquer" as it is easy to burn through layers which will show. Fully cured polyurethane coatings are recommended for polishing.
A fleece pad for the final buff cleans up the surface.
Tim

 

[mopo]

What preparation would be necessary before the compound application,  MPA5010 claims to remove 1500 scratch marks and Festool's only 1500 grit is the Granat. I was planning on using the Platin 2 which is more like pads. Any suggestions would be a great help.

You could try Abralon pads which are available in grits up to 4000. There is some corner rounding but it's minimal at the higher grits. As the pads wear their effective grit level goes higher. A half-worn 4000 grit pad might be equivalent to 6000 or so after a few minutes of use and that might be glossy enough for the final finish without having to mess with polishing compounds.

 

[Segovia]

I am about to purchase an RX90 orbital sander, I will use it for sanding but I also want to use it for finishing water base lacquer. I called Festool this morning but they were not much help. 

Why have you chosen the RO90 Vs. the RO 125 or RO 150? Are you only polishing a small area? Or is sanding your priority? The RO 90 will work fine, it is just a bit small.
An interface pad reduces the edges removing too much finish.

I am only doing small jobs, guitars and the 90mm are much better suited to the waist where it gets a bit tight.

I have established that the MPA5010 compound combined with the orange pad will be used for the final finish, if it isn't glossy I can experiment with the next level up on the compounds. 

What level of gloss do you want to achieve, mirror like? If you want a very high gloss >85 sheen, you will more than likely need to use the finer compounds.

What preparation would be necessary before the compound application,  MPA5010 claims to remove 1500 scratch marks and Festool's only 1500 grit is the Granat. I was planning on using the Platin 2 which is more like pads. Any suggestions would be a great help.

I would recommend plantin2, over Granat. The plantin2 will hold a little bit of moisture from the compound or light spray of distilled water which helps in the polishing process.
Most polishing compounds require sanding up to 1500 or 2000. It is not necessary to use a finer grit than that if you are planning to use a compound. A misting of water or a damp sanding pad works well. Too much water is not recommended.
It is not recommended for the inexperienced or first time user to polish water borne "lacquer" as it is easy to burn through layers which will show. Fully cured polyurethane coatings are recommended for polishing.
A fleece pad for the final buff cleans up the surface.
Tim

 

[Segovia]

I ordered the MPA 9010 polishing agent and the polishing sponge PS STF D80x20, I also ordered the Sanding discs STF D 90/0 S4000 and S2000. In hindsight, the medium compound would not be enough. Festools technical specification descriptions leave a lot to be desired.  I'll either flatten by hand or with the RX with the 800 granat disks. 

The WB lacquer has cured for 3 weeks

Does that seem about right?   

 

[tiralie]

The WB lacquer has cured for 3 weeks
Does that seem about right? 

Should be. Who is the manufacturer/brand.
Tim

 

[Segovia]

It's General Finish's High Performance Top Coat

 

[tiralie]

It's General Finish's High Performance Top Coat

It is a polyurethane and should be cured enough in a week to polish.
This should polish up beautifully.
Tim

 

[Segovia]

It seemed to work out well, I finished with the blue compound and sponge. I am wondering if I can improve on this by going up to the finer compound.

 

[LDBecker]

Sorry to come in late on this -
Is this the gloss, Satin or semi-gloss? Are you spraying it? If so, with what equipment?

I'm doing my kitchen cabinets with this in the satin finish, with GF's sanding sealer and three coats of the satin, sanding in between with 400 granat. The last coat is just left to cure on its own, and it really looks great. I really hadn't thought of polishing it out. I used the Graco Proshot Fine Finish cordless sprayer (not the new version).

What did the polishing give you over the finish on its own?

Larry Becker

 

[Segovia]

Hi Larry

It is gloss, not semi gloss. 

I used 800 Granat and then 2000 and 4000 Platin 2, slightly damp to give some lubrication.  I then put on a final polish with the Festool polishing pad and the 9000 polishing compound. 

Regards

John