Expert: Eileen Cronk - 11/2/2007

Question
QUESTION: I wish to "antique" a table and chair set.  It would be an off white base with raw-umber colored glaze (water-based) brushed on and rubbed off somewhat. Now I did this to a coffee table..it turned out just the way I wanted until I went to put the latex polycrylic on top. As I brushed on the poly it sort of picked up and moved or gummed up the brown streaking somewhat. Could it be my glaze? I purchased glaze from Sherwin Wms and added an acrylic type raw umber colored paint to it.  I hate to take on dining set unless I'm sure of my products.  Any help would be appreciated.  Mary

ANSWER: Hi Mary
Nice to hear from you.
Mary its obvious the last step of applying the poly ruined your work.
My question back to you would be..why apply it at all LOL
I have done this process a bit in the past, and never had to poly over the glaze.
Do you have directions that specifically say to do this?
If the answer is yes, I would switch to a spray water based poly.
Good Luck and great question
Regards
Eileen
PS..I do not feel its the glaze.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Eileen,
I guess that would be true on a smaller table, but this is a good sized dining table, and I'm thinking it will need several coats brushed on for protection. It just seems like there should be a way to put on a good protective coat without it affecting the "antiquing". Mary

Answer
Hi Again Mary
And of course you are right.
There has to be a way to protect the antiquing and there is.
But something went wrong with your other table which was fine till the poly was applied.
So the poly had to be the culprit I'm sure.
I was just doing a bit of reading about this process.
And I noted that water based lacquer is used for protection in a lot of the projects...over water based paint of course.
So I would certainly look into that.
Mary I would go ahead and get your table done to the sealing stage, then do a test of the sealer to make sure its compatible.
Also perhaps think about getting a complete kit with underpaint, antiquing and sealer.
This way there will be no mess ups.
Its a lot of work and you want the best job.
Good Luck..I know you can do this.
Kindest Regards
Eileen