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Finishing

WOOD Why finish wood? Well, The reason carpenters finish wood is because there is a natural moisture content in wood. The finish keeps that moisture in. If the wood wasn't finished, the wood would crack or split. If you don't know what I mean, go out to your fire wood pile and look at the end of a log that hasn't been split yet. If the wood is old enough, there should be tiny splits in the heart wood(center) of the log. Imagian the same thing happening to the project you created. There are many different ways to finish wood. Below are some ways to finish wood. Some finishes have down falls however, so be careful selecting your finish. Exapmle, Varnish creats a heavy blanket of protection, but can lift up over time. Make sure you read the lable of a product you are about to purchase. If you have any Questions, e-mail me at [email protected]

Protection
Staining wood
Polyurethaning wood
Oiling wood
Waxing wood
Steel Wool Finish
Protection

WOOD While using chemicals to protect or finish wood, the fumes can often damage your brain. The chemicals can burn or discolor your hands. Sometimes the fumes can effect or make your eyes water depending what you are using to finish the wood. To prevent any of these things, take proper precautions. Wear latex gloves to protect your hands. If you use gloves like the medical gloves, the gloves may dissolve and ruin the wood. Wear a mask and work in a well ventilated area to avoid brain damage. Lastly, wear goggles to protect your eyes. Remember, always read the label on your product for further informanton and safety.

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Staining wood

WOOD First I suggest you read the protection portion of this page for safety. Stain can change the color of wood to make it look like a different wood or wood color. Stain can really enrich the natural beauty of wood. But stain can magnify small imperfections like sanding scratches. Before you stain something, test the stain on a scrap of the same kind of wood you are going to stain. This ensures that you will be happy with the results. Before you stain, read the label on the can and carefully follow any safety procedures. Once you have chosen your stain, tested it, and understand the safety procedures, you are ready to stain.

  1. Lay down newspaper to protect your bench.
  2. Then place your project on wood scraps to get it off the paper. *Note, don't put scraps under a part you want to stain because the scraps you put your project on can absorb the stain and leave a light bloch that is irreversable.
  3. Open your can of stain.
  4. Use a paint stirer to mix stain to a uniform color.
  5. Use a brush or very soft cloth to spread stain evenly on wood surface.
  6. Once entire surface is covered by a uniform blanket of stain, let the stain soak into the wood for 10 to 15 minutes.
  7. After waiting 10 to 15 minutes, use a clean, nondusty, soft cloth to gently wipe the stain off the surface in the direction of the grain.
  8. Let the wood dry overnight or as long as the directions on the can of stain specify.
  9. Add as many coats of stain as you want until you find the shade you desire. *Note: each coat makes the wood darker.
  10. I advise to add a finish like polyurethane. on top of this stain for further protection.

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Polyurethaning wood

WOOD Polyurethaning is a good method to protect wood. Polyurethane is like a liquid plastic that protects the wood from water, scratches,and dust. Polyurethane also gives a glossy finish that really catches the eye. There are different types of polyurethane but I usually use waterbased because it is easy to clean up and is fast drying. Polyurethane can be applied over stain

  1. Lay down some newspaper on your work surface.
  2. Place your project on wood scraps on the newspaper.
  3. Gather polyurethane, a foam brush and some light worn 220 grit sandpaper. *Note: another method of applying polyurethane is to spray it on. *Note: sandpaper comes in different grits. 60 grit is very rough and 220 is very fine. There is other grits between these two like 80, 100, and 150.
  4. Lightly dip your foam brush in the polyurethane.
  5. Spread a even coat on the entire surface of the wood and carefuly smooth out any bubbles of polyurethane on the wood.
  6. Let this coat dry for 30 minutes to an hour if it is water based or as long as the can advises.
  7. When the polyurethane is dry, carefully use the 220 worn sandpaper and very lightly sand the surface of the wood with long strokes in the direction of the grain. Gently smooth any drips.
  8. Apply 2 to 4 more coats of polyurethane and repeat the sanding process.
  9. On the last coat, don't sand the wood.
  10. After you are finished polyurethaning, it is a good idea to apply wax.

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Oiling wood

WOOD Oiling wood is probably one of the easiest ways of finishing wood and one of the most attractive. Oil enhances the natural beauty of wood. There are many different types of oil. I use tung oil but there are many more. If you are finishing a project that you use to eat or drink out of, use vegetable oil instead of the other kinds. The oil is absorbed into the wood and creates a hard protective seal on the surface of the wood. The best thing about oil is that it can be applied at any time even when you are done. I suggest you read my protection portion of this page.
  1. First, lay down newspaper.
  2. Put your project on wood scraps and place it on the newspaper.
  3. Get some fine steel wool and dab some oil on it.
  4. Swirl the steel wool on the surface of your project in a circular motion.
  5. Keep applying the oil on your project until you reach a uniform color.
  6. Let dry overnight.
  7. Add as many coats as you want at any time.

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Waxing wood

WOOD Usually wax is used to smooth out and polish wood after it is shellaced, varnished, lacqered or polyurethaned. Certain kinds of wax can be used to build up a nice, glossy, smooth surface. There are many different kinds of wax ranging from natural to manmade. Some waxes can be harmful to you so I suggest you read the protection portion of this page before you begin. Usually I use wax after I polyurethane because it is the most modern way but you can use it after you shellac, lacquer, or varnish.
  1. This prosess is used for paste wax.
  2. Get some veryfine steel wool and smear some paste wax on it.
  3. Move the steel wool in a circular motion all over the project. The wax acts as a lubricant to dull the cutting action of the steel wool.

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    Steel Wooling Wood
    WOOD Often steel wool can creat a smooth finish by itself on wood that has a high content of oil or resin such as teak. Steel wool comes in different "grades" from 0 (rough) to 0000 (fine). When using steel wool, rub in circular motions and work down through the grades.
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    Comments, Questions, Concerns. Please e-mail me at [email protected]

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