Woodworking For Beginners - 5 Biggest Mistakes in Finishing a Project
This is a woodworking for beginners primer on finishing mistakes to avoid.
As beginner in woodworking do their projects they typically take great care starting out.
As they progress they get impatient to finish (pun intended) and rush the job.
Mistake #1: Don't rush the job.
People often spend lots of time getting the cuts right and gluing up their project only to rush the finish to get it done.
Solution #1: Take your time all the way through Mistake #2: Take the time to prepare the surface by checking for dents.
It is fixable before you apply your finish but very difficult after.
To check for dents shine a light on the wood so you catch the sheen and you will be able to notice any imperfections.
Solution #2: This will work as long as the grain is not broken.
With an eye dropper place a drop of water in the dent then take a hot soldering iron and touch the standing water in the dent.
It will steam and the dent will expand let sit over night and re-sand to eliminate any raised grain.
Mistake #3: Not checking for glue spots.
If you don't check for glue spots and you stain the wood it will be lighter on that spot because it will not accept any stain.
Solution #3: Wipe your project down with mineral spirits.
All of the glue spots will stand out as light spots against the darker wetter looking wood.
When you can see them you can fix them by scraping or sanding.
Mistake #4: Sanding to much or to little before you stain.
Solution #4: Sand to 180 grain.
You need to sand to get a smooth surface both sanding beyond 180 grain is a waste of time and can inhibit stain absorption.
The time for 320 and 600 grain sand paper is between coats of finish.
mistake #5: Putting on a couple of heavy coats of finish.
Solution #5: Multiple thin coats of finish (paint included) look and protect better than one or two heavy coats.
Thin your varnish or polyurethane with about 10% to 30% mineral spirits.
Companies are making finish thicker to pass EPA restriction not because it works better, so thin your finish and put 4 to 5 coats for better leveling and a harder finish.
As beginner in woodworking do their projects they typically take great care starting out.
As they progress they get impatient to finish (pun intended) and rush the job.
Mistake #1: Don't rush the job.
People often spend lots of time getting the cuts right and gluing up their project only to rush the finish to get it done.
Solution #1: Take your time all the way through Mistake #2: Take the time to prepare the surface by checking for dents.
It is fixable before you apply your finish but very difficult after.
To check for dents shine a light on the wood so you catch the sheen and you will be able to notice any imperfections.
Solution #2: This will work as long as the grain is not broken.
With an eye dropper place a drop of water in the dent then take a hot soldering iron and touch the standing water in the dent.
It will steam and the dent will expand let sit over night and re-sand to eliminate any raised grain.
Mistake #3: Not checking for glue spots.
If you don't check for glue spots and you stain the wood it will be lighter on that spot because it will not accept any stain.
Solution #3: Wipe your project down with mineral spirits.
All of the glue spots will stand out as light spots against the darker wetter looking wood.
When you can see them you can fix them by scraping or sanding.
Mistake #4: Sanding to much or to little before you stain.
Solution #4: Sand to 180 grain.
You need to sand to get a smooth surface both sanding beyond 180 grain is a waste of time and can inhibit stain absorption.
The time for 320 and 600 grain sand paper is between coats of finish.
mistake #5: Putting on a couple of heavy coats of finish.
Solution #5: Multiple thin coats of finish (paint included) look and protect better than one or two heavy coats.
Thin your varnish or polyurethane with about 10% to 30% mineral spirits.
Companies are making finish thicker to pass EPA restriction not because it works better, so thin your finish and put 4 to 5 coats for better leveling and a harder finish.
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