Rubbing out final varnish coat

[Shootey]

I’m varnishing a piece of a Thonet chair. It is a bent plywood piece similar to Eames chairs. I’m using Petit captains 1015 varnish since I had it leftover from some woodie door interior work. I’ve put on the petit sealer on bare wood and so far one coat of 1015. I plan to put on several more coats. It is extremely glossy. my question is whether the last coat should be light sanded to dull down the gloss. Thanks. 

[Tom Boehm]

I know a lot about varnishing and furniture refinishing through experience but I don't know everything. I think you should look into a final coat of a lower sheen varnish rather than sanding. If you sand, even with with wetsand paper 600 or even 1200 grit it will only dull the high spots in the wood grain. You would have to sand it completely glass smooth to get an even sheen. Sanding with coarser paper will avoid this but will leave scratch marks. 0000 steel wool might work. 

 

Overall, my gut tells me any kind of sanding will obscure the grain and color showing through the haze. My suggestion would be a final coat of satin varnish or perhaps some furniture polish or wax that dries satin. 

[NewOldWood]

I have used steel woll to dull a finish in the past and have been pretty happy with the results. Make sure the varnish is thoroughly dry before you do it though.

[Shootey]

Do you guys have a suggestion on what satin varnish to use as the final coat over the Petit  Captains 1015? . I’d also like to get a pint but I doubt that’s possible. Thanks. 

[Tom Boehm]

You can put regular hardware store satin or semi gloss polyurethane over 1015 if you sand it first with 220 grit. That is most likely to come in a small can. 

 

Pettit makes a V-975 satin Captains interior varnish but only in quarts.