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AlanM writes:

I don't think I've seen anything like this before.



After topcoating this solid cherry panel
(a highboy top from a Harden Furniture set),
this crazy "crack" pattern appeared under the new finish.

The finish on one board in the panel is not affected
(the crack lines stop right at the joint),
but all the other boards in the panel have this crack pattern.




This cherry panel is one of three pieces of the same Harden
bedroom set that I have here for repairs -- moving damage,
mostly scratches and dents -- I also have a nightstand top
and the headboard. All three pieces had similar damage;
I treated and repaired all three pieces exactly the same
and at the same time. The other two pieces are just fine
and did not have this crack-line problem.

I did drop-in repairs (Benco M4) that turned out invisible
in all three pieces, and there are no crack lines
that I can see over the repaired areas.

I did the following to all three pieces:

Cleaned with TSP and Naphtha.
Did drip-in repairs and sanded them level.
Lightly sanded the entire surface with 220.
"Rubbed out" each surface with Liberon 00 SteelWool.
Cleaned the surfaces with Naphtha and tack-ragged them.
Shot them with Benco M4 lacquer; horizontal flat position.

The headboard and the nightstand: perfect.
The highboy top: nightmare.

I sanded it out and repeated the same process on it again,
hoping for different results. Same crack pattern came back.






It was real hard for me to photograph it ... so that the cracks
are visible in the photo -- the only way I could catch it
was in the reflection of the fluorescent tubes overhead.
Under incandescent light I cannot see the cracks.

Why did this happen on one piece out of three,
and not on that one board?
Why I can see it in the shop and not in the house?

AlanM
Idaho



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