Amy, thanks for the suggestion on locating some shellac.
Unfortunately where I currently am isn't overrun with BORGs of any color so my only 2 choices were ACE hardware stores with limited inventory since they're in "vacation towns". Neither of them had any type of shellac and barely had sandpaper adequate for my needs since I forgot my container of paper at home. The best I could do at one of the stores was minwax Polycrylic, so I opted to remove the coat I had put on the bottom of the board and just use that since the table is only going to be used outside and not left out so an exterior coating wasn't really needed to begin with. It's ironic I guess since most of what we normally use is GF's polycrylic, but of course that was also in the bin with my sandpaper and a few other stains which are all safely sitting on a counter several states away!!
Howard, thanks. Yes that is exaclty what I'm referring to. I haven't been successful in locating any exterior oil based tinting bases so after reading an article in Wood ( I think) that indicated the water based tinting bases could also be used in the same "clear paint" fashion as long as it was applied in thin coats. I had experimented and had success with thin coats on some pine and maple stuff we made for the kids to play with outside and it dried clear on those pieces so I mistakenly figured it would do the same on other woods. :BangHead:
Luckily for me I started on the bottom of the piece to see how it would come out since I also forgot the offcuts of the same ERC, also sitting safely at home
. I've been using the GF Polycrylic on other things made from this same ERC so I was fairly hopeful that the minwax would perform the same and got lucky that it did. It was a major pita getting the other coating off the bottom since I never thought to pack a ros since the piece was already finish sanded and just needed to be burned, pictures stained, and top coated. The tiny ACE hardware stores didn't even have any ros for sale either so I had to make do with a very old B&D sanding pad attachment for a drill, which I fortunately always bring since they're almost always needed when we visit. I was able to remove the initial coating without messing up the bottom and the recipients were very pleased with the finished piece. I'll get some pictures posted of the piece in the next day or so once I can locate the appropriate cable......
BTW Howard, any pointers on where I might be able to get oil based exterior base paints? I'm guessing maybe "real" paint stores like Sherwin Williams or the like?
Thanks again for the assistance.
Brian.