Woodworking can be an incredibly rewarding hobby, trade, and profession that produces beautiful crafts, products, and structures.
Woodworking can be an incredibly rewarding hobby, trade, and profession that produces beautiful crafts, products, and structures, allowing you to portray your skills and patience. Many tips and techniques are used in various aspects of woodworking, including wood finishing. Listed below are some helpful wood finishing tips and techniques for woodworking tasks and projects.
Hand Sanding
Hand sanding is an intensive process, but it is mandatory for most woodworking projects. Curved surfaces or very intricate parts of your project will require hand sanding. Start with the largest grit (smaller numbers) and get progressively smaller (larger numbers). Remember to sand with the grain so that you don’t leave scratches.
Orbital Sanding
For larger surfaces where you can use an electric sander, opt for an orbital sander. These leave almost no visible scratching. Orbital sanders are also great for sanding where the grain goes in two different directions.
Stain Options
Many different stains and finishes are available on the market, so choose carefully. Once you narrow down your choices, test each of them on excess wood or scrap wood from your project. Different woods also take different finishes, so make sure you’re aware of how the stain will look on that particular wood before you fully commit to it. Once you choose, thoroughly inspect your surface for imperfections and condition the wood if needed.
Brushes for Stain and Wipes for Polyurethane
Use the right tool for the finish you’re applying. Get high-quality brushes for your wood stains, but stick to wipes or even pads for applying polyurethane. When possible, try spraying on the final coat to get a completely streak-free and glass-smooth finish.
Patience
When you’re doing multiple coats of stain and varnish, it can be tempting to rush through them. However, it’s recommended that you take your time and avoid rushing. Wood finishing takes time. Make sure that you give your coats time to dry, and if you notice an issue between coats, don’t jump in right away to fix it. The layer is probably already tacky, and you’ll do more harm than good. It’s best to wait for the coat to dry completely before working out the issue, then applying the next coat.
Depend on Leland Fisher Lumber for Your Lumber and Hardware Needs!
Leland Fisher Lumber is a full-service lumber and hardware supplier. We’ve serviced homeowners and professional contractors in Montgomery County, Howard County, and Frederick County since 1894! Whether you want to remodel your home or upgrade your business, we have the professionalism and expertise to make any architectural vision come to life.
Be sure to visit Fisher Lumber’s Designer Showroom featuring displays of Andersen Windows, Therma-Tru entry doors, Simpson and Masonite exterior doors, as well as a wide selection of interior doors featuring Simpson, Masonite, Lemieux, and JELD-WEN. Our knowledgeable experts are ready to assist you! Contact us at 301-424-6500 and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.