| Finishing not only protects the wood but also | | | | also soluble in alcohol, so it cannot be used for |
| enhances its natural beauty. A good finish is one that | | | | dressers where cosmetics containing alcohol are |
| beckons an onlooker to touch it and examine its | | | | often placed. |
| beauty more closely. | | | | Advantages are that it is easy to use, dries quickly |
| A good finish can't be hurried. It takes careful work | | | | with a gloss and can be rubbed to a satin or dull |
| and time to produce. When done correctly the end | | | | finish. It is often used as a sealer coat over stains, as |
| results are very satisfying and enjoyed by all who | | | | a filler on fine grained woods or to cover knots |
| see it for many years. So take your time and do it | | | | before painting. |
| right. | | | | Advantages Negativeseasy application easy to |
| The factors involved in selecting the most | | | | scratchno special equipment rub-out to lower |
| appropriate finish depends on what the item is and | | | | sheeneasily repaired low wear protectionmedium cost |
| type of wood it is made from, how and where it is | | | | no chemical protection |
| to be used, the environment it will be placed in, and | | | | Lacquer |
| how much time and/or money you are willing spend. | | | | Lacquer is the most widely used finish on furniture. It |
| The information below should narrow the choices for | | | | makes a very durable finish that resists water and |
| most people. Remember you can call any professional | | | | alcohol. It doesn't darken wood color and its color |
| restoration shop in your local area for help or free | | | | does not darken with age like many varnishes do. In |
| advice. | | | | recent years there has been several advancements |
| Oils | | | | in lacquer finishes. Pre and post catalyzed lacquers |
| This type of finish is a good choice for woods with | | | | today have superior hardness, with improved scratch |
| natural color and relatively tight grain such as Walnut | | | | and ware resistance. Lacquer is difficult to use with a |
| and Cherry or naturally high resin woods like | | | | brush because it dries so quickly. For this reason it is |
| Rosewood and Teak. This finish does not require | | | | not recommended for use by amateurs. There are |
| staining the wood first but can be applied over any | | | | brushing lacquers that have retarders added to |
| wood stain that has properly dried. Keep in mind that | | | | slower trying time, but the best application by far is |
| all oils will darken wood. If a lot of "elbow grease" is | | | | spraying. |
| used rubbing between coats and an adequate | | | | Advantages Negativesdurable skill required to |
| number of coats are applied the finish will not show | | | | applyfast drying costly equipmenteasily |
| water marks or surface scratches and is more heat | | | | repairedchemical resistant |
| resistant than lacquers or varnishes. | | | | Opaque (paint and enamel) |
| Advantages Negativeseasy application long application | | | | Opaque paint and enamel finishes are often used on |
| timeno equipment needed darkens woodeasily | | | | wood with no particular beauty or to cover old |
| repaired low wear protectionlow cost | | | | finishes in bad shape without stripping. |
| Varnish | | | | Be sure the surface is clean, smooth and dry. Paint |
| A beautiful and durable finish can be obtained with a | | | | will not stick to a greasy surface. You do not have |
| quality varnish. There are two types of varnish, | | | | to remove the old finish; sanding the surface will |
| regular and urethane. Regular varnish has a deep | | | | make a foundation for the priming coat. If the article |
| amber color and adds a mellow tint to the final color. | | | | to be painted is new, look for any knots. These |
| Urethanes are clear to light yellow and are more | | | | should be covered with a coat of shellac. |
| resistant to scratches and ware. A clear, dry day and | | | | Mix paint and enamel well before using. Pour a small |
| a dust free room is required to obtain a good finish. | | | | amount into can to use and keep remainder covered. |
| Temperature of the room, the varnish and the wood | | | | Advantages Negativeshides defects slow drying |
| should be between 65F - 75F degrees. | | | | timelittle equipment needed covers wood graineasily |
| Best results are achieved by spraying, but a skilled | | | | repaired poor adhesion overlow cost old finishes |
| person with a good brush can produce a beautiful | | | | Special Finishes |
| finish also. Colored varnish, sometimes referred to as | | | | These types of finish are achieved by various |
| stain varnish is not recommended for brushing by | | | | processing techniques and often employ one or more |
| amateurs. Spar varnish is an excellent coating for | | | | kinds of finishing materials to produce the desired |
| surfaces subjected to moisture or heat. | | | | effect. |
| Care must be taken when shaking or stiring varnish | | | | Pickled finishes are made with white or another color |
| when a brushing application of the material is used. | | | | over a natural or lightly stained wood color. The |
| Shaking or rappid stirring can creates bubbles which | | | | effect is similar to the old blonde finishes of the 40's |
| are hard to brush out and may appear as small dents | | | | and 50's, except it is usually done on furniture with |
| when the varnish has dry. Adding a little thinner and | | | | lots of crevices for the white to stick into. The result |
| or letting the varnish "rest" before use after mixing | | | | has a more interesting texture with the natural grain |
| will minimize this problem. Stirring is better than | | | | of the wood showing through and highlighted with |
| shaking and may be necessary to mix-in flatting | | | | the white. |
| agents that have settled on the bottom of the | | | | Antiquing is a blended or shaded finish achieved by |
| container. | | | | applying one or more contrasting colored glazing |
| Advantages Negativesscratch resistant slow | | | | liquids over a painted base. Traditionally, the glaze is |
| dryinglittle equipment needed optimal condition for | | | | applied over white. Today any color base and glaze |
| applicationwater resistant/proof skill needed for brush | | | | combination is acceptable. This type of finishing was |
| worksome hard to repaired | | | | very popular in the 60's and 70's. |
| Urethanes can not beused over other finishes | | | | Photo and fake wood grain finishes are found on low |
| Shellac | | | | end furniture most often made of flake board |
| Because of shellac's limited durability, it is not | | | | construction with plastic fasteners. This type of |
| recommended for heavily used furniture. This finish is | | | | inexpensive furniture is "disposable" and was not |
| brittle when dry, scars easily and water spots. It is | | | | designed to be restored, but rather to be replaced. |