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Welcome to our web page regarding finishing woodworking projects. Finishing can make or break a great woodworking project. I am not a professional finisher by any means but I have discovered and learned a number of finishing methods that work well in the homeshop. The purpose of this article is to describe several fool-proof finishing methods, including their pros, cons, and application methods. However, before I do that, let's look at a conventional finishing process used by pro cabinet shops:

1. Sand Bare wood with 120 through 180-grit paper. Clean surface.
2. Apply toner to even out differences between different boards. Do Not Sand
3. Apply stain. Do Not Sand.
4. Apply sanding sealer. Allow to dry. Sand with 320-grit paper.
5. Apply Two or more coats of a solvent-based finish, sanding lightly between each coat.
6. Allow to cure and rub out finish.

• Homeshops have inadequate equipment. The pros have high quality spray guns, respirators, clean and ventilated finishing rooms, waterfall or other high-tech filters, and so forth.
• Homeshops offer poor environmental conditions. The pros have environmentally controlled conditions. The temperature, humidity, and alignment of the moon and stars is strictly controlled. Read the labels of most finishes. They describe environmental conditions that NASA would have a hard time meeting.
• Homeshops have inadequate, improper light. The pros have the proper type and amount of lighting. It is positioned to avoid shadows and to allow finishers to actually see what they're doing.
• Homeshop woodworkers use Home Center finishing materials. The pros use finishing systems. Such systems include stains, sealers, and top coats. They are designed by chemists to work together well. Given the right equipment and environmental conditions they dry quickly, can be sanded and rubbed out, and last forever. The homeshop guy fights with multiple brands of Home Center materials that are not designed to work together.

Is all lost for the homeshop finisher? Absolutely not! In fact, many respected professional furniture builders, woodturners, and so forth use finishing processes that do not require sophisticated equipment. Let's look at several fool-proof clear finishes that work in the homeshop environment. By the way, I am open to any additions or modifications you might have to this article. Email me your comments and I'll make the appropriate changes/additions...

Note: As always on this web site, bold-faced blue text is a link to another page.

Finish #2: Danish Oil with Wipe On Varnish Top Coat

Pros: Easy, virtually foolproof No drips/runs/sags Few dust nibs Variety of tinted Danish oils available Less maintenance for owner than Danish Oil-Only Finishes Leaves a nice sheen without plastic-look (subjective) Danish Oil penetrates into the wood fibers Cons: Requires many coats to get reasonable depth and protection Lengthy application time for large surfaces This is a variation of the process described for Finish #1 and a variation of the system offered by Jim Frye on the Wood Magazine Finishing Bulletin Board. I use a similar process with good results. It results in a thin but protective finish with an even satin sheen. Prepare the surface to be finished. Apply toners and stain according to their directions and allow to cure. Apply two coats of (Watco) Danish Oil (an oil/varnish blend) using your applicator (quality paper towel, t-shirt, a lint-free cloth.) On open grain woods like oak, check the finish periodically for wet spots and wipe them away. These wet spots can "erupt" from the wood's pores and grain for hours! Let the finish cure completely. This may take several days. Apply a wiping varnish (Varathane Professional gloss thinned 20% to 50% with mineral spirits) using a your applicator. If you wait more than 12-24 hours between coats, scuff the work piece with a gray 3M pad or 320 sandpaper. Repeat Step Five until you have the desired "build". After 24-hours, level the surface by sanding with 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper, backed up with a block of wood, lubricated with a small amount of water. Apply one more coat. Smooth and protect the surface with paste wax applied using #0000 steel wool, or for a near-perfect finish.... Allow the finish to cure for a week or so. Rub out the finish with a white 3M pad or #0000 steel wool and paste wax. You can add a small amount of mineral spirits to thin the wax for easier spreading. Let the wax dry and buff it with terry cloth towel.

Finish #2A: A Wipe On Varnish Process Variation

Pros: Easy, virtually foolproof No drips/runs/sags Few dust nibs Variety of tinted Danish oils available Less maintenance for owner than Danish Oil-Only Finishes Great depth Leaves a nice sheen without plastic-look (subjective) Danish Oil penetrates into the wood fibers Cons: Requires many coats to get reasonable depth and protection Lengthy application time for large surfaces Prepare the surface to be finished. Apply one coat of Watco Danish Oil, applied by flooding the surface and sanding the oil into the work using 320-600 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Sanding in the finish leaves a glass smooth surface, even on red/white oak. Wipe off the excess oil. Re-wipe after an hour and again after several hours. After three to four days, wipe on one coat of Varnish, thinned by about 20-30% (I typically use Varathane Professional Finish). Wipe on another varnish coat, thinned by about 20-30% If you're happy with the surface build up, sand with 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper (and sanding block), lubricated with a small about of water. Clean and dry the surface. Brush/wipe on one coat of varnish, full strength or thinned by no more than 10%. Allow the finish to cure for about one week. Rub-out the finish with a white 3M pad or #0000 steel wool and paste wax. You can add a small amount of mineral spirits to thin the wax for easier spreading. Let the wax dry and buff it with terry cloth towel.

Finish #3: Danish Oil

Pros: Easy, Virtually foolproof No drips/runs/sags No dust nibs Variety of tinted Danish oils available Satin sheen, hand-rubbed finish Danish Oil penetrates into the wood fibers Cons: Requires many coats to get reasonable depth and protection Moderate to High Maintenance for owner Lengthy application time for large surfaces Many woodworkers like Danish Oil, Tung Oil, Linseed Oil, and other oil finishes. Primarily, woodworkers like oil finishes because they are easy to apply and do not require exacting environmental conditions or finishing equipment. Personally, I don't use typical Danish Oil or straight oils, because the finish requires continual maintenance. Straight Oil finishes tend to "dry out" over a period of time. If the piece will remain with you, you can touch up the finish using more oil, lemon oil, or wax. But if you're selling the piece or giving it away as a gift, you're placing the maintenance chore on to the shoulders of the owner. Consequently, for wipe-on oil finishes, I prefer varnish/oil mixtures such as Dalys, Waterlox, and "The Sam Maloof Recipe" These mixtures add resins to the oil (generally Tung oil) that provide an added measure of protection, build up, thus require little or no maintenance. At the same time, these finishes are easy to repair, and don't show scratches as easily as surface finishes. To apply, follow the directions on the container. I find the drying times listed are usually too short and the number of coats are too few. For a satisfactory finish, I have used the following steps to apply Watco Danish Oil: Prepare the surface to be finished. Flood the surface with Watco. Spread the finish evenly using your applicator (paper towel, lint-free cloth, old t-shirt.) After a 15 minutes or so, flood the surface again. Spread the finish evenly using the applicator. After a few minutes, wipe off excess. On open grain woods like oak, check the finish periodically for wet spots and wipe them away. These wet spots can "erupt" from the wood's pores and grain for hours (even days)! Allow to dry, normally 24 hours. You can end up with a tacky finish if you apply a coat on top of a coat that is not adequately dry. Repeat Steps 2 through 6 until you reach desired depth and sheen you're after. Let the finish cure completely before applying a top coat or using the item. This may take several days. By the way, for small work pieces or fretwork, I simply dip them into a "vat" of Watco and allow to drip dry. I stole the following Danish Oil application instructions from the Fletco/Watco web site: Apply generously to dry wood using a brush, cloth, or roller. Let the finish penetrate 15 - 30 minutes. Before the first coat has dried, apply an additional coat in the same way. The wood should be saturated. Remove the excess finish with a soft cloth, wiping with the grain. If you want a topcoat, wait 72 hours before you apply it. Helpful Links: Fletco/Watco Web Site Minwax Tung Oil Application

Finish #4: Sam Maloof's Finish

Pros: Easy, Virtually foolproof to apply No drips/runs/sags No dust nibs Easy to mix your own Satin sheen, hand-rubbed finish Penetrates into the wood fibers Cons: Requires many coats to get reasonable depth and protection Lengthy application time for large surfaces The Sam Maloof finish consists of two finishes: A varnish/oil mixure followed by an oil/varnish/beeswax mixture. The first mixture is applied until you are satisfied with the build-up. Then you apply the second finish, which does require some elbow grease! You can purchase the finish pre-mixed from Rockler, or you can mix your own. I provide two Mixture 1 recipes. Mixture 1 Version 1 is the traditional Sam Maloof finish. It takes a while to dry--leave at least 24 hours between coats. Mixture 1 Version 2 is an oft-used finish that provides a little better penetration, is easier to apply, and dries faster. Mixture 1 Recipe (Version 1) Mix equal parts of the following: Boiled Linseed Oil Raw Tung oil (not Waterlox, Dalys, or other tung oils containing resin additives) Semi-Gloss urethene varnish Mixture 1 Recipe (Version 2 - Easier to Apply, Better Penetration, Dries Faster) Mix equal parts of the following: Thinner. Use paint thinner, mineral spirits, or naptha. Feel free to use a bit less thinner and more varnish or oil. The thinner is present to help the finish penetrate the pores of the wood, rather than lay on the surface. Varnish. Virtually any quality varnish will do. I prefer a standard oil varnish rather than a fast drying varnish. Oil. Use either boiled linseed oil or raw tung oil. Again, do not use Waterlox, Daly's, or other tung oils that have added resins. Mixture 2 Recipe Mix 2 handfuls of shredded beeswax to equal parts (approximately 1 pint each) of boiled linseed oil and raw tung oil. Heat the mixture using a double-boiler (pan or bowl over a pan of boiling water) on an electric hotplate just until the wax melts. Due to the volatile nature of the ingredients, brew your mixture outdoors. When cooled, the mixture should have the consistency of heavy cream. General Procedure Apply three to four coats of Mixture 1. Let oil sit on surface for 5-10 minutes. Optionally, sand mixture into wood using 400-600 grit wet and dry sandpaper. Remove excess oil with a clean cloth/paper towel. Allow at least 24 hours drying time between each coat. Apply two to three coats of Mixture 2. Rub Mixture 2 into the surface very vigourously--it is suggested that when your fingers start to get hot from the rubbing, you're applying it correctly. From what I have read, Sam Maloof's employees sand to 400 grit, then use #0000 steel wool to create a very fine surface. Then they take a very soft rag - a sort of toweling - and run it over fery carefully. Oil finishes require a much smoother surface than thick surface finishes (varnish, lacquer). However, for this finish, I stop sanding at 220 grit, and use the wet sanding technique. It produces an ultra smooth surface by not only "sanding", but sanding wet fibers and filling microscopic pores. Here are Sam Maloof's own words: "...we use my own finish that Rockler sells - one third glossy varnish, one third boiled linseed oil, one third tung oil. I use that on everything, tabletops and all," he said. Helpful Links: Rockler Web Site

Finish #5: Dalys and Waterlox Tung Oil

Pros: Easy, Virtually foolproof to apply No drips/runs/sags No dust nibs Satin to semi-gloss sheen, hand-rubbed finish Penetrates into the wood fibers Low Maintenance -- Does not dry out A finish everyone will love to touch! Cons: Requires many coats to get reasonable depth and protection Lengthy application time for large surfaces I love these two finishes! People love to touch the work I finish using these tung oil products and the process described below. Both products contain resins that provide a durable, low-maintenance finish that won't dry out. General Procedure Apply liberally with a hiqh-quality (viva) paper towel, folded into a pad. Let the finish sit on the surface for about 5 minutes. Work the finish into the wood with 400-600 grit wet and dry sandpaper. Wipe away any excess and allow to dry about 12 hours before reapplying. When satisfied with build and after finish has cured, apply paste wax with a pad of #0000 steel wool. Buff out using clean cloth towel. It takes four to five coats to develop the build and sheen I like. The surface will feel very smooth without feeling "plasticy". Waterlox offers at least three interior finishes: Transparent (sealer/finish), Low Sheen, and High Gloss. Just pick your poison. Daly's offers several finishes including the BenMatte Clear Danish Tung Oil finish that I use and a harder, urethene-based finish called PRO FIN (Semi-Gloss and Gloss). The BenMatte Tung Oil provides a low sheen finish--for a higher sheen, mix in equal parts of BenMatte and MinWax Fast-Drying Polyurethen (Gloss). I usually stick with the straight BenMatte and acheive a the desired sheen by buffing out the finish with paste wax. By the way, I purchase Daly's products from American Furniture Design, but you can also purchase them directly from Daly's Paint. Since they are not as well known as perhaps other brands, I have included extended contact information below. The bottom line: you can't go wrong with Dalys or Waterlox! Helpful Links: Waterlox Web Site Daly's Wood Finishing Products Daly's Paint 3525 Stone Way Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103 Phone: 206-633-4200 Toll Free: 1-800-735-7019 American Furniture Design

Finish #6: Gel Varnish

Pros: Easy, Virtually foolproof No drips/runs/sags Dries Fast (no Nibs and multiple recoats in one day) Low odor Can mix various tints to color the varnish Low maintenance. Hand-Rubbed satin sheen Cons: Requires 3 to 4 coats to get reasonable depth and protection Lengthy application time for large surfaces May not work on top of popular stains and sealers Limited protection I have used the Bartley brand of Gel Varnish with excellent results. It is great for jewelry boxes and other smaller scale projects. It dries quickly thus you can apply multiple coats in one day. You can apply it in virtually any environment. And though I am mixing apples and oranges, I also like gel stains, especially for difficult-to-stain woods such as maple and pine. Apply according to the instructions that come with the product. Double the stated drying times unless the temperature is above 70 degrees and humidity is below 50%. I stole the bulk of the following staining and varnishing instructions from the Bartley web site: Prepare the surface to be finished. With a small cloth, apply a generous coat of Bartley Gel Stain to an area no larger than 8 square feet. With a clean cloth or soft paper towel, immediately wipe off the excess with the grain until the color is uniform and free of smudges. The newly stained surface should be nearly dry to the touch.Your first coat of stain is done! For a darker, richer tone, apply a second coat of stain. Up to three coats will add significant depth and richness of color. Allow six hours between coats. Do not sand between stain coats. Apply two to three coats of Bartley’s Gel Varnish. Gel Varnish is tack-free in minutes, and it is not necessary to sand between coats. Helpful Links: Bartley Collection Gel Finishes Rockler Polyurethane Gel Finish Velvit Gel Poly Behlen Master-Gel Wood Finish (Woodcraft is one of many fine retailers that carry Behlen products) Petri Diamond Gel Finish

Finish #7: General Finishes SealACell

Pros: Easy, Virtually foolproof No drips/runs/sags Moderate drying times (few Nibs and multiple recoats in one day) Penetrates better than typical varnishes Low maintenance. Leaves a low sheen, hand-rubbed look without the plastic-look (subjective) Cons: Requires 3 to 4 coats to get reasonable depth and protection Lengthy application time for large surfaces Limited protection Hard to find locally Could require some owner maintenance depending on application I used this finish once and liked the results. A growing number of professional woodworkers looking for a natural, low-sheen finish use SealACell. Check out the General Finishes web site for more information. A recent Wood Magazine article profiled a furniture maker that uses SealACell to produce a low sheen, hand-rubbed finish. Helpful Links: General Finishes SealACell

Finish #8: Brushing Lacquer

Pros: Beautiful, traditional, hard clear finish Easy to apply Limited drips/runs/sags with proper technique Very fast drying times (little if no dust nibs and multiple recoats in one day) Low maintenance. Variety of sheens (gloss, semi-gloss, satin) May be rubbed out Sands better than Polyurethane varnishes Very good protection Cons: Lengthy application time for large surfaces Obnoxious, toxic, flammable, and explosive fumes, requires lots of ventilation Requires good brush technique No foam brushes A number of excellent brushing lacquers are available, including the Deft Clear Wood Finish. In fact, this is one of the first finishes I applied, as a kid. Apply using the following procedure: Prepare the surface to be finished. Use a natural bristle brush to apply finish. Brush with the grain, slightly overlapping each pass. Do not overwork, as the finish dries quickly. Allow to dry approximately 1 hour before apply additional coat. Optional: Sand lightly with 320 grit sandpaper and tack off dust. Deft and other lacquers literally melt into previous coats, thus you sand only to smooth surface imperfections. Repeat Steps 2 - 4 until you reach the desired build and depth. After the finish has cured (approximately 1 week), you can rub it out using standard methods. Helpful Links: Deft Finishes

Finish #9: Brushing Polyurethane

Pros: Hard, durable, flexible finish Several available levels of sheen (Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin) Low maintenance Generally polyurethanes have a slight amber color that gives wood a warm glow (Subjective) Many varieties Widely available Cons: Requires better than average brush technique to avoid Drips/Runs/Sags and bubbles Lengthy application time for large surfaces Slow drying times (4 to 8 hours) Dust Nibs! Needs warm/clean environment Moderate ventilation required Finish may yellow more than expected Plastic look/feel (subjective) The two biggest problems with brushing varnish is fighting drips, runs, and sags, and secondly, avoiding dust nibs in the dried finish. Avoid sags and drips by orienting your work surface so that it is horizontal. Brushing varnishes vertically is asking for trouble (sags and drips). Several magazines have published articles showing the masses how to sand, buff, and slice off nibs and other surface imperfections. My suggestion is to do everything in your power to avoid them in the first place. To accomplish this, you need to start with a clean surface and apply and cure the finish in a clean area. I setup a clean area (make-shift spray booth) by stapling 1 mil 9 x 12 plastic sheet to the ceiling, allowing it to drop down to the floor forming three to four walls. This limits the contaminants that can enter the finishing/drying area. I place several fans with furnace filters at the open end of my make-shift spray booth to exhaust the airborne particles. You can apply varnish with a brush using the following process: Prepare the surface to be finished. Knock the dust and crud out of your brush, especially new bristle and foam brushes. If using a new brush, pull on the bristles to remove any loose hairs. Stir finish before and during use. Never shake. You need to stir the semi-gloss and satin finishes during use to make sure the light-diffracting additives are evenly mixed. They tend to settle after a few minutes. Apply a thin coat of finish using a natural bristle brush (Black China Bristle, OX Hair) or foam brush. Do not overwork the brush stroke as it leads to bubbles. Most bubbles will disappear if the temperature is right, the material is not too thin, and if you have moderate air flow. An excess of bubbles is often caused by low temperature, excessively thinned varnish, too much air flow, or poor brush technique. Let dry 4-8 hours. Sand entire surface lightly with 320 grit sand-paper to remove surface imperfections and to ensure proper adhesion. Remove dust using tack rag or a rag moistened with mineral spirits or water. Apply additional coats until you reach desired build and depth. Sand surface lightly between each coat. After final coat, allow to cure 3 to 7 days. Apply paste wax and buff out using terry cloth towel. Or, after the finish has completely cured (1 to 2 weeks), you can rub it out using common rub out methods. Helpful Links: Minwax Varathane PPG - Olympic Zinsser offers a fast drying varnish Jim Jewitt - Oxford Finishes The Best Brushes

Finish #10: Brushing Oil Varnish

Pros: Hard, durable, flexible finish Several available levels of sheen (Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin) Low maintenance Oil varnishes generally have a slight amber color that gives wood a warm glow (Subjective) Widely available Sherwin Williams and Zinsser produce oil varnishes that are truly fast drying (1 hour or less) Cons: Requires better than average brush technique to avoid Drips/Runs/Sags and bubbles Lengthy application time for large surfaces Most varnishes have slow drying times (4 to 8 hours) Dust Nibs! Needs warm/clean environment Moderate ventilation required Plastic look/feel (subjective) I recently tried the (new to me) Sherwin Williams Fast Drying Oil Varnish. It appears clearer than Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane and dries incredibly fast. Too fast for brushing if its thinned, and too fast for spraying with turbine (hot air) HVLP equipment. You apply oil varnishes in the same manner as Polyurethane varnishes. Helpful Links: Good Fast Drying Varnish Zinsser offers a fast drying varnish The Best Brushes

Finish #12: Spraying Polyurethane and Oil Varnishes

Pros: Hard, durable, flexible finish Several available levels of sheen (Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin) No bubbles Low owner maintenance Generally polyurethanes have a slight amber color that gives wood a warm glow (Subjective) Quick application time Cons: Spraying varnish makes a mess of the finishing area Often requires thinning which leads to drips/runs/sags Slow drying times (4 to 8 hours) Dust Nibs! Needs warm/clean environment to properly cure Lots of ventilation required Finish may yellow more than expected Plastic look/feel (subjective) I have sprayed Polyurethane many times but I do not advise it unless you have a spray booth. Why the booth? Poly overspray does not dry before contact like lacquer. Consequently, it becomes a sticky hard to remove/clean mess on anything it lands on. Plus, if you have a furnace, gas clothes dryer, or other flame, it will burn the overspray that is floating in the air, gooing up the works in the process. Though not explosive like lacquer, it is flammable! To avoid orange peel and to get the finish to level correctly, you may have to thin the varnish by 10 to 20 percent. The downside is that this can lead to drips/runs/sags on vertical surfaces. A few tips: Spray outdoors. If spraying indoors, build a permanent or temporary finishing area. I staple cheap 9' x 12' plastic sheets to the ceiling of my shop or garage to create a 3-1/2 wall spray booth. I have a sacrificial folding table to hold the work. Practice, Practice, Practice! Spray work pieces horizontally if at all possible to avoid sags and runs. Spray top surface and edges of door and place on drying rack to dry. Apply finish on the back surface with a brush when the top surface is dry. Buy several flood lamps and halogen work lamps on tri-pods. Arrange light so you can detect sags, drips, runs, orange peel, missed areas, etc.

Other Finishes To Consider

I have received tons of requests over the years for a boiled linseed oil (BLO) recipe. BLO is an inexpensive and easy to apply alternative to other rub-on oil finishes. Like other oil finishes, it soaks into the wood pores, leaving a shiny but not glossy surface that enhances the grain. Wood treated with BLO is resistant to denting and scratches are easily repaired, but the wood and oil surface is not as hard as varnish, and it slowly absorbs moisture if allowed to stay wet.

You can apply BLO straight out of the can, but it will take several days to dry and weeks to fully cure, even with its added "driers". Since you need to apply 4 to 5 coats or more to build a protective and deep finish, speed up the process by adding turpentine or mineral spirits as an additional drier and to thin the BLO. Adding varnish and/or beeswax adds more depth and protection. Mix the recipes a day or so in advance to applying it.

The most common boiled linseed oil (BLO) based recipes are as follows:

1. 1 part BLO + 1 part raw Tung Oil (not Waterlox, Dalys, or other tung oils containing resin additives) + 1 part Semi-Gloss urethene varnish (This is the Sam Maloof finish recipe)
2. 1 part BLO + 1 part Turpentine
3. 1 part BLO + 1 part Turpentine + 1 part varnish
4. 2 to 3 parts BLO + 1 part Turpentine
5. 1 part BLO + 1 part Turpentine + 1 part Beeswax (mixed over electric element outdoors)
6. 2 to 3 parts BLO + 1 part Turpentine + 3 parts Beeswax (mixed over electric element outdoors)
7. 2 parts BLO + 1 part Mineral Spirits + 2 to 3 parts Beeswax (mixed over electric element outdoors)
8. 1 part BLO + 3 parts blond shellac + 2 parts polyurethene

Apply the BLO recipe as you would other oil finishes. I flood the surface, allow the recipe to soak in for a few minutes, then wipe off. You can also sand the flooded surface with fine sandpaper before wiping off the excess finish. This helps smooth the surface by knocking off microscopic fibers. Some say it fills the pores--I disagree to large extent. Again, to achieve a protective, durable finish with depth, you will need many coats.

Is there a downside to BLO finishes? Yes. Unless you select a recipe that includes varnish, you will find it necessary to reapply the finish--it will dry out. There used to be a saying that is not far from the truth in regareds to BLO finishes: Apply every hour for a day, every day for a week, every week for a month, every month for a year, and every year for the rest of your life! This is why I tend to include varnish in my recipes, or go with a finish like Waterlox Tung Oil Products. I like Waterlox because it includes tung oil, resins, and the thinner already mixed. The resins provide the additional durability and protection that makes recoating unnecessary in most applications.

The Tried and True line of finishes, though not new, are getting lots of press as of late. I have not used them but defer to the experiences of many who claim they are truly excellent finishes. The Tried and True products are made from Polymerized Linseed Oil and are applied by hand. The consistency is rather thick and I have read they require a high level of effort (elbow grease) to apply. The products are claimed to be environmentally safe, solvent free - zero VOC, food safe, and contain no heavy metal driers.

Here is a marketing blurb from Tried and True:

Tried & True Wood Finishes has combined some new and some old ideas to create the best oil finishes made. We use 18th century varnishmaking techniques and the best natural ingredients to make environmentally safe wood finishes that make no compromise for beauty, durability,or safety. Our products are easy and economical to use. Remember: A little bit goes a long way!

Target Coatings. Target Coatings is also receiveing rave reviews from pros and homeshop users alike. They offer an expanding line of water-based spray finishes that perform like their traditional solvent-based counterparts.

Their Oxford Spray Lacquer (again, water-based), performs like traditional lacquer. It burns-in, dries quickly, and provides a hard, clear finish. Target Coatings claims that their Oxford Premium Spray Lacquer out performs conventional nitro-lacquers and CAB Acrylic systems without the environmental and safety issues associated with solvent based products.

A couple things I have learned about water-based finishes that also apply to the Oxford Premium Spray product: 1) They work best at room temperature with low humidity (tend to blush if humidity is > 75%) and 2) Never use stearated sandpaper between coats!

Preparing the Surface

Here are some hints in regards to preparing surfaces for stain and topcoats:

• The surface must be clean, dry, and free of any dust, wax, or grease before staining.
• Bare wood should be sanded smooth and free of blemishes.
• Hand-sand with the grain following machine sanding, and on flat surfaces use a sanding block
• If saw, router, planer, or molder marks are visible, begin with a coarse paper (80-100 grit). Otherwise start with a medium grit (120-150) and finish with a finer grit (180, 220, 320). Surfaces sanded with finer sandpaper will result in slightly lighter tones when stained; using coarser paper will result in darker colors.
• Just before applying the first finish coat, clean the surface:
  • Vacuum surface using brush attachment.
  • Use compressed air to blow off surface.
  • Pass over surface with a tack rag or rag moistened with mineral spirits.
• Just before applying subsequent finish coats, clean the surface:
  • Vacuum surface using brush attachment.
  • Pass over surface with a rag moistened with water. Dry with clean shop paper towels.

After each coat of polyurethane, you should knock down the inevitable dust nibs with 220-320 sandpaper. After your final coat, you will still have some dust nibs unless you're lucky and/or have a very clean finishing area. You can smooth the final coat surface using #0000 steel wool and some kind of lubricant. I generally use TreWax or Johnsons paste wax. After smoothing the surface with paste wax, I "rubout" the finish using a thick terrycloth towel and lots of elbow grease.

There are other techniques for removing the final coat's dust nibs including shaving them off with a razor blade, using 1500-2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper using water as the lubricant, etc. However, if you plan to rubout poly using any of these methods, it is critical that you use gloss if you want to achieve any degree of sheen because the rubout stages will diminish the level of sheen. However, if done correctly, rubbing out a finish should not affect the clarity and perhaps enhance it. Popular Woodworking published a good article on this subject (Popular Woodworking, Issue #107, March 1999, Page 34).

Matthew M wrote:

I spray finished a cabinet that is made from solid oak face frames and oak plywood sides and back. The solid areas finished smooth with few nibs. The plywood areas seemed to sprout dust and lint from every pore. Before I apply another coat, I'll need to sand all the plywood areas thoroughly. What can be done to these areas to prevent this from happening? It doesn't happen on subsequent coats, so should I be sealing the plywood before the first coat? Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

Our reply:

Been there, done that! Indeed hardwood veneer plywood will sprout fuzz as you mentioned, especially if you are applying a "water-based" finish. There are a couple of fixes:

1. In the past, we would spray a light coat of distilled water on the plywood surface and sand down the raised fibers. However, unless you are working with high quality plywood with a thick veneer, we can no longer do this without risking sanding through the veneer. I have seen veneer lately less than .010" thick.
   
   
2. Apply a sealer coat. Once dry, lightly sand / steel wool it then wipe the surface with tack cloth and with a correctly positioned light, look for instances of raised grain and lightly sand them smooth. Most finish manufacturers offer sealer for their top coats. If not, use shellac, or a thinned mix of your top coat as the sealer.

By the way, in woodworking, sealer/primer coats are recommended for most projects, and for several reasons including fixing fuzz! Regarding your project, you should be okay, just sand down the fuzz and apply another coat of finish.

• FWW Article - Finishing Kitchen Cabinets
• FWW Article - Fourteen Finishes

Certain woods like soft pine, maple, and birch often absorb stains unevenly. To help overcome this problem on soft woods and end grains, first apply a coat of Gel Varnish, wipe it nearly dry, arid then follow immediately with a coat of gel stain. In this case, the varnish acts as a conditioner and eliminates much of the blotchiness. A second or third coat of stain may be necessary to get the desired color. On the hardest woods, using a medium grit (120-150) rather than very fine paper before staining usually obtains even results. For the most difficult woods to stain, dampen the wood surface with water from an atomizer and allow it to dry for one to two hours. Then sand lightly, without polishing the surface, and stain. Remember, always test-stain a hidden area before proceeding with the entire piece.

I stole some of this from another web site...don't remember where...I have tried three water-based finishes: Amity, Hydrocote, and Crystalac. None have performed like I expected. I am not saying that they are bad finishes, simply that with my equipment (professional HVLP), environmental conditions, and so forth, these finishes did not provide satisfactory results. I understand that pro cabinet shops are using a number of water-based finishes including ML Campbell and Sherwin Williams products. However, they can control the humidity and temperature which are pre-requisite to using water-based finishes. I have read that the Oxford product line provides an excellent water-based system. I plan to try it sometime in the future. Here is the troubleshooting guide.....

1. Rough, dry surface. This is called dry spray. You may have sprayed too lightly. Re-sand the finish with #320 paper and apply a heavier coat. Keep your gun at 6-8" from the surface.
   
   
2. Dimples in the finish. This is called orange peel, caused by spraying in temperatures that are too cool. Cooler temperatures will adversely affect how the finish will level and harden. Water base finishes must be applied at temperatures above 65 F. If it is cold enough to wear a sweater it is too cold to apply a water base finish. The surface of the wood must also be warm. If you turn the heat on when you enter your shop in the morning, the air heats up quickly but your furniture will still be cold for some time. Check the surface to see if it is warm. Also, check the temperature of the finish. Warming cold finish by setting the can next to a heater or setting the container in some hot water for 5 minutes will improve the ease of application.
   
   
3. Larger dimples are called "fish-eyes" or "craters". Cool temperatures can cause these, but the more likely source is contamination of the finish with either wax or silicone.
   
   
4. Blush. Blush is the term for a cloudy, milky appearance in the finish, has two causes. The most common reason is incompatible stain. For example, using a water base top coat over a heavy oil base stain. When the top coat is applied, the oil in the stain seeps up through the finish and reacts with the acrylic causing a chemical blush. To prevent this, use a quick drying water based stain. If you choose to use oil base stain, seal the stain with a coat of shellac or lacquer sealer. This will provide a barrier between the oil and the acrylic. Proper drying time between the oil stain and finish coats is essential!
   
   
5. Another common cause for blushing is high humidity. Spraying water base finish in humidity of over 75% may cause blushing because moisture becomes trapped beneath the finish and cannot evaporate. You can prevent this condition by increasing air movement in the finishing area with a fan. All water needs to evaporate is sufficient air movement. You can also improve drying conditions by increasing the temperature in the drying area.
   
   
6. Surface is not leveling out. In hot temperatures (85F - 100F) the finish may dry too fast. Use EF Extender to open (increase) the dry time. Finishes that dry too fast may not completely level out before all the water evaporates from the finish. Remember that high humidity can cause the finishes to take longer to dry but will not harm the final finish.
   
   
7. Air Bubbles / Air Entrapment. This symptom is often associated with the previous topic, not leveling out. One of the most common and vexing problems with water-based products are the air bubbles. Any fast-drying product tends to have problems with air bubbles, but air bubbles are more inherent to water-based products because of the way they interact with the pores of the wood, literally forcing air/gas to escape. Allowing or causing the finish to dry too fast or allowing air movement during the initial drying process is the most common cause of air bubbles--the finish just does not have enough time to flow and level before it sets up. The following are a few time-honored “air bubble” remedies that I have compiled from my experiences and others..
   • Prevent drafts or moving air during wet film setup, at least until the finish has leveled out. In the case of water-based finishes, give it an hour and then ventilate the work area.
   • Control your Air temp & Humidity. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
   • Experiment with different film thicknesses.
   • Do not sand with stearated sand paper and make sure the surface is properly prepared.
   • Experiment with your spray gun settings.
   • Don't use HVLP turbine type spraying units, as they tend to warm the air and cause the finish to dry too quickly. Use HVLP conversion guns, or conventional sprayers
   • Depending on the product, thin the finish with water--start at 10% and add more if needed. Some products suggest you use their retarder. Best to follow manufacturer recommendations.
   • Lightly dampen the surface, with a sponge or a water bottle sprayer. The water will travel through the film keeping it wet longer, so the bubbles have more time to break.
   
   
   
8. One other consideration when using water-based products that can cause surface problems-Never use stearated sandpaper between coats!

I look forward to the day when I have enough sense (cents?) and space to setup a proper spray booth. A good spray booth should have at least three sides, explosion-proof ventilation that exhausts airborne particles through large surface filters, proper lighting, and so forth. Unfortunately, I have to make do with my make-shift spray booth.

I setup my make-shift spray booth by stapling 1 mil, 9 x 12, plastic sheets to the ceiling of my shop or garage, allowing the plastic to drop down to the floor. I use the plastic to form three to four walls. This limits the contaminants that can enter the finishing/drying area. I have contemplated using a shower curtain arrangement, or stapling the sheets to furring strips, which I could screw to the ceiling and reuse. But the current system works well enough and costs almost nothing. I place several house fans, protected with furnace filters, at the open end of the spray booth to exhaust at least some of the airborne particles.

I have a sacrificial banquet table with folding legs that I use to get the work piece off of the floor. I have a variety of lazy susans and blocks of wood with protruding finishing nails that I use to raise work pieces off of the table surface. I use a variety of incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen work lamps to provide lighting. The system works pretty good. It's not perfect, but is adequate. Of course I cannot spray highly volatile finishes like lacquer and I wear protective clothing and I breathe through a dual filter respirator.

I received numerous questions regarding finishing butcher blocks. Most of us are concerned about whether a finish is safe or not for food preparation. Most finishes (Polyurethane, Danish Oils, Salad Bowl Finishes, etc.) include dryers that are potentially dangerous (i.e. may cause cancer). However, once these finish have cured, they appear to be safe. There are alternatives. The following are a few finishes typically recommended for butcher blocks:

Finish 1: Polyurethane, 2-Part Urethanes, Conversion Varnishes
You can brush on two - three coats of oil-based polyurethane and it will look good and resist water. Of course 2-part urethanes and conversion varnishes are probably better, but must be mixed and require spray equipment. If the top is to be used for food preparation (cutting, lots of water, etc.), no surface finish will hold up. The knife cut marks will scar the surface, water will enter, and after awhile it will lose its fine finish look.

Finish 2: Tried and True Varnish
This varnish (and their oils) penetrate and are completely safe to use. They have been around awhile, but have just recently entered the lime light so to speak.

• Tried and True
• Wood Finishing Supplies dot com

Finish 3: Mineral Oil
The safest oil to use to condition butcher-blocks and cutting boards is mineral oil. It's safe, effective and non-toxic, and unlike the vegetable oils, there's no chance it will turn rancid. A couple of mineral oil-based finishes exist. Drench the board several times. One trick I have read about is to drench it several times, sand it wet, drench it, and iron (yes) iron the top. See Links Below.

Finish 4: Nothing
The FDA suggests you use nothing. Raw wood provides one of the best food preparation surfaces known to man.

Links:

• Furniture Care
• Butcher Block Finishing Article

The correct finish (if there is such a thing) for guitar fretboards depends in part on the type of wood used for the fretboard:

• Generally solid hard (hard rock) maple fretboards are finished with a catalyzed lacquer or urethane varnish. However, the constant fingering, fretting, and string abrasion will wear through any such surface finish. Consequently, guitar builders/luthiers often recommend a simple oil finish such as tung oil or pure lemon oil.
  
  
• Rosewood and ebony fingerboards are often left unfinished. Several guitar builders I have contacted suggest that the fretboard be sanded to at least 2000 grit and then finished with a hard paste wax. Others recommended a special fretboard oil or pure lemon oil.

"Mark K from Anchorage" provided the following comments and advice regarding guitar finish maintenance:

I was visiting your website "Homesite Finishes That Work" and found it very interesting. One area that I enjoyed reading was about "Guitar Necks."

While I don't have a maple neck guitar, I do have a couple of rosewood fretboard guitars and one ebony fretboard guitar. When I clean them, it is for a variety of reasons. I first use some 000 steel wool and clean both sides of the fret wire. I then use the same steel wool on the neck. Most necks have sort of radius and I don't worry about that. After I have used the steel wool on the fret wires and on the wood, I use a clean rag and use some "'Liquid Gold" liquid on the necks. I usually let that set overnight to let it soak in. I'll wipe off the necks the following day and rub the fretboards with a dry cloth. This "Liquid Gold" works well and doesn't feel oily. It keeps the wood in good shape and I don't have to worry about guitar case humidifiers like some guitar fanatics do. This "Liquid Gold" penetrates the wood and I never have to worry about guitar neck bowing and warping. This has worked fine for me over the years and I recommend it.

Mark K

From the Wechter Guitar web site:

We use linseed oil on the bridge, applied very sparingly with a Q-tip, then rubbed off with a rag. You really only need to do it when you want to clean the bridge and give it a little shine; the wood does not require oil, that is, it does not have to have oil restored to it.

We use the same technique on the fingerboard, mostly just to clean off grime and give the fingerboard a little smoother feel. I've used lemon oil too, but I don't think it lasts as well, though it smells nice and works fine too.

Too much oil will gunk up the strings, so be sure you wipe it off well. You can oil the fingerboard and bridge as often as you like as long as you wipe the wood very well to get the excess off. If you never do it at all the only harm done is that the wood will start looking dull and will accumulate dirt. This does not harm the wood in any way. You probably want to wipe a little oil on the fingerboard and bridge a few times a year just to keep the bridge looking good, and to keep the fingerboard feeling smooth.

What the bridge and fingerboard really need is the proper moisture content- this is what you have to make sure of! We recommend about 50% to 55% relative humidity.

I will flush this out sometime in more detail...

• Complete Finishing Systems (Sherwin Williams, ML Campbell)
• Lacquer
• Catalyzed Oil Varnish
• Water-based Lacquer and Varnish
• Rubbed Oil Finishes
• Polyurethane
• Shellac

I will flush this out sometime in more detail...

• High Pressure Low Volume spray guns
• High Volume Low Pressure spray guns - mated to conventional air compressors
• Ventilation
• Filters
• Respirators (static and fresh-air)
• Dedicated Finishing rooms with Environmental Controls
• Turntables
• Drying Racks

A number of people have asked me about applying topcoats (varnish, polyurethane, lacquer, etc.) over shellac. The manufacturers of most clear finishes discourage using their products over shellac. However, the term shellac in such warnings typically refers to natural (waxy) shellac, not dewaxed shellac. In most cases, dewaxed shellac makes for a near perfect sealer or base coat for topcoat finishes such as varnish, polyurethane, and lacquer.

Until recently, it was necessary to mix your own dewaxed shellac from flakes and alcohol. However, Zinsser has recently introduced their SealCoat® Universal Sanding Sealer, which is a solution of 100% wax-free shellac in denatured alcohol. Formulated using a patented shellac process, SealCoat is guaranteed to be compatible over and under all clear finishes and guaranteed to remain fresh and dry to a hard film for at least 3 years after the date of manufacture.

However, always test your finishing components (stains, base / sealer coats, toners, top coats, and polishing compounds/waxes) for compatibility.

A few web sites offering shellac:

Shellac Superstore

Helpful Finishing Links

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• American Furniture Design (Retail source for Daly's
  
  
• Amity Water-Based Products, Waterloo, WI Tel: 414/478-9633, Fax: 414/478-3966
  
  
• Bartley Collection Gel Finishes
  
  
• Benjamin Moore
  
  
• Briwax
  
  
• Cabot Finishes
  
  
• Daly's Wood Finishing Products
  
  
• Detco Spar Marine Varnish Products
  
  
• Deft Finishes
  
  
• The Finishing Zone (Target Coatings Retail Site)
  
  
• Fletco (Varathane, Watco)
  
  
• General SealACell Finishes
  
  
• Jeff Jewitt's Homestead Finishing Site
  
  
• Jeff Jewitt's Rubbing Out Tutorial
  
  
• Hydrocote Water-based finishes
  
  
• Hydrocote Water-based Finishes
  
  
• Jim Kull's Hand Applied Finishes Tutorial
  
  
• Jim Kull's Finishing Tutorials
  
  
• ML Campbell (Pro waterbased-Finishes)
  
  
• ML Campbell Products
  
  
• Macfee Refinishing's Hand Applied Finishes Tutorial
  
  
• Minwax
  
  
• Merit Industries
  
  
• Olympic Finishes
  
  
• Purdy Paint Brushes (arguably The Best brush)
  
  
• Paint School - Interesting Info
  
  
• Paint School - References
  
  
• Rod's Finishing Articles
  
  
• Sherwin Williams
  
  
• More Sherwin Williams
  
  
• Tried and True Varnishes
  
  
• Target Coatings (Oxford Lacquer, etc.)
  
  
• Water Tech - Hydrocote Dealer
  
  
• Waterlox Tung Oil Finishes
  
  
• Zinsser
  offers a fast drying varnish and a variety of pre-mixed shellacs, great for sealers.

Glossary

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I stole this glossary and formatted in HTML:

Atomization

The breaking up of finish particles through the tip of an air gun under pressure. A fine mist is created that lands on the surface and levels out to a smooth finish.

Binder

Finish or resin added to the stain, used to lock the pigment and dyes into the wood.

Blush

Cloudy haze in finish caused by moisture trapped beneath the surface. High humidity is the most common cause. Can be also caused by the improper application of an oil base stain under a water base finish.

Coalescing

The evaporation of the chemicals that keep the acrylic resin in a liquid form. Once this process is complete, the acrylic forms a hard finish film.

Crazing

Tiny cracks in the finish film, usually along the edges of a surface. Caused by the finish drying too fast in high temperatures.

Extender

Chemical additive used to control the drying and flow of water base finishes. Can be used with stains and finishes to "extend" the open time.

Fish Eyes

Defects in the finish film caused by surface contamination (usually from oils, silicones, and waxes.)

Gloss

The amount of light reflected off the finish surface. High gloss is rated 80-90°. Semi gloss is rated 50-75° . Satin is rated 30-45°. Rubbed effect is rated 20-25°. Flat sheen is rated 5-15°.

Grain Raising

Tiny fibers in the wood grain that lift when exposed to water. Easily controlled with proper sanding.

HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure)

An HVLP spray unit consists of a turbine motor that produces warm, low-pressure air. Its high transfer efficiency increases the square foot coverage.

Orange Peel

Defect in finish film usually caused by cool drying temperatures or improper fluid tip size. The finish looks like the surface of an orange.

Pinholes

Small defects in finish film caused by surface contamination. Resembles tiny holes in the finish.

Resin

The material that forms a hard film on the surface after the chemicals have evaporated. Acrylics and urethanes are the common resins used in water base finishes.

Satin

Finish that has had the gloss reduced to provide a softer sheen. A flattening agent made from fumed silica reduces the amount of light reflected by the surface.

Stain

A liquid mixture to color wood. Made of 4 parts: Vehicle (water or solvent), Colorant (pigments and dyes), Binder (resin), Additives (solvents to control drying).

Viscosity

The thickness of a fluid. This is used to determine flow rates for spray application. Usually measured with a #2 Zahn cup or #4 Ford cup. Viscosity can be decreased by using the appropriate thinner.

Comments / Questions

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