Supersurfacing – PZC Chatometry

This test is aimed at understanding how an extremely good planing operation affects chatoyance.

Nine different species were subjected to “supersurfacing”, an operation for which we wish to thank Arco-Baleno, a Swiss company that distributes Marunaka supersurfacers.

For each species, 2 samples were collected. Both had their chatoyance measured in the super-surfaced condition. Then sample 1 was sanded to increasing grits measuring chatoyance at each step, up to 10`000 grit. Finally, these samples got coated with one medium shellac layer. Sample 2 was directly coated with one medium shellac layer. Table below summarizes the results:

Supersurfacing appears equivalent to sanding up to 2500-grit for Sapele, European Walnut, Hard Maple, Movingui and Niangon, and to 1500-grit for European Ash. However, not even 10’000-grit allowed to equal supersurfacing on Sweet Cherry, European Oak and Lime, with the latter showing impressively higher chatoyance: 18.8 PZC for supersurfacing vs 13.2 for 7000-grit sanding.

The same general tendency was also found when comparing results after finishing.

Pictures below provide some examples: