 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
The
work environment should have good light and ventilation
and should not be too cold (ideally above 50 degrees)
or too damp. |
 |
Remove
all hardware; look for nail holes that should be
filled, excess glue that should be removed, a crack
that should be tended to or any other problems that
need attention. If you are unsure of what to do,
give us a call at this point; do not proceed. |
 |
Prepare
the furniture by lightly sanding in the direction
of the grain with #180 sandpaper or sanding block.
If you are working on a piece that is unassembled,
please make sure it fits together properly before
you continue with the finishing process. It may
be to your advantage to disassemble it again because
it may be easier to finish this way. |
 |
Dust
off the furniture with a tack cloth or using a vacuum
or a blower (avoid using a tack cloth when using
water based finishes). You will always want to work
on a dust free piece. Before you proceed with staining,
you should TEST the color on a safe spot to make
sure the color is what you expect before you do
the whole piece. You can apply the stain according
to label directions. Use either a lint free rag
or a foam brush. Start on the inside or underside
of the piece and work your way out. Apply the stain
in the direction of the grain. Let dry according
to the label directions. A second coat of stain
is a personal decision. Again, TEST it on a safe
spot. |
 |
After
your staining is done and dry, you will be putting
on thin layers of a final finish. Polyurethane comes
in three different sheens: satin, semi-gloss and
gloss. Lightly buff with #320 or finer grit sandpaper
or buff with a fine 3M abrasive pad between each
layer of poly, removing the dust and finishing with
a final coat of poly. Do not buff the final coat.
You may decide to use an oil finish instead. Whichever
you choose, follow label directions. Be sure to
apply thin, even coats as you will achieve better
results by putting more coats on than trying to
use fewer heavy coats. These are generally not self-leveling
products and so must be brushed out. |
 |
You
are done! Stand back and admire what you have just
accomplished. Now, onto the next piece... |
|
|
| Helpful
Hints: |
| • |
First
and foremost helpful hint: DO NOT USE YOUR
FURNITURE UNFINISHED!!! |
| • |
When
transporting the furniture into your home,
do not get it wet. |
| • |
Be
careful to use good sandpaper or sanding block.
Worn out paper will only polish your furniture. |
| • |
Some
people prefer to "condition" the
end grain on some woods. We carry wood conditioners;
each manufacturer has their own recommendations
for their product. |
| • |
Dusting
well before each step is very important. |
| • |
When
you are in the staining portion of the project,
try and plan enough time to complete an entire
surface before stopping. It is best to try
and stain the entire visible area at one time.
If two people want to work on the project,
try and break up the work so that one does
the inside and undersides and the other works
on the outside area. Everyone has a different
touch and a uniform finish is what we are
after. |
| • |
If
you do not stain all the sides of the piece,
you must seal them with at least three coats
of your final finish. |
| • |
Finishing
materials are flammable! Please dispose of
all used materials in a metal can filled with
water and put a lid on it. You can also store
them in the open air outdoors. Each town has
different rules for disposal. Check it out. |
| • |
There
are some very good non-toxic finishes. We
carry two lines, the General Finishes water
based line and the Mastercraft line. They
are, however, non-toxic once they have dried. |
| • |
When
placing your furniture in your home, keep
in mind that the sun, your heating system
and levels of humidity all play a part in
how well your furniture will hold up. Your
furniture needs attention just like we do
when the seasons change, especially in the
winter months. |
| • |
A
few points to go over: make sure you look
your piece over well before you apply any
finish. When you are working with the polyurethane,
apply it in thin even coats. Work in good
light and ventilation. If you think you have
a problem, stop and call; do not proceed. |
| • |
If
you cannot finish your piece right away, store
it in a cool, dry place. |
|
| Questions? |
|
If
you
live
in New
Hampshire,
call
us at
1-603-895-4118.
Outside
New
Hampshire,
please
call
us at
1-800-439-4118.
|
|
With
a little time and effort, you CAN have a
beautiful piece of furniture! Start small
and work your way up. Good luck, and give
us a call if you need us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
