Creating the Perfect Finish

Schutte Lumber sells the materials that you need for top-notch woodworking. Adding the perfect finish to your woodworking project can be accomplished in a few, thoughtful steps.

A flawless finish begins with proper sanding. For rough wood, begin with a 60-80 grit to even out any irregularities. If your wood is fairly smooth, 120 grit will remove any large fibers and move the process forward. After accomplishing an overall level of smoothness, fine tune using 300-400 grit.

After satisfactory sanding, move into the staining phase. Soft or porous woods should be sealed before they are stained to avoid an uneven appearance. Stain using thin layers; it is easier to gradually increase pigmentation if you need than to accomplish the reverse. Follow the directions on the stain container and ensure that adequate drying time is allowed between applications.

The final clear coat is almost as important as the sanding phase. Be sure that the stain is dry. (Otherwise, the stain will blend into the clear coat and make it cloudy.) Apply the first thin coat very carefully and evenly. Once the first coat is dry, gently sand the wood using 220 grit or higher. You do not want to penetrate the clear coat and stain. Sanding the clear coat layer decreases the shine and scuffs it a bit, allowing for better adhesion of the second layer. The subsequent two or more clear coats should be applied thinly, allowed time to dry, and sanded with an increasingly fine grit.

For more details, visit NationalWoodworking.com.

Image by nuttakit