| Congratulations on your purchase of Ready-to-Finish
furniture! Each piece of real wood furniture is an "original",
the result of nature's handiwork. Every item has its own grain pattern and
color, according to the character of the wood. Light and dark areas, such
as knots, blend during the finishing process to produce the uniquely attractive
look of real wood furniture. While you may paint, varnish, or finish your
furniture in other ways, we will talk about one of the most commonly used
finishing processes - staining and top coating. To help you get the best
results, here are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare to finish your
furniture using this method. |
Liquid Stain |
Gel Stain |
Preparing The Surface
Your furniture has been pre-sanded, but most unfinished
pieces need additional fine sanding. Sand lightly over the whole piece
using 100 to 220 grit sandpaper (grit depends on the type of wood). The
objective in pre-sanding is to open the pores of the wood consistently
so it will accept the stain evenly plus, remove any dirt or oil that may
be in the wood during shipping. Also sand any areas that are not very
smooth. You don't need to sand extensively, just enough to get the super
rough areas. The main reason for not sanding much is because once you
put a wet substance on wood, it swells the grain and makes it rough again.
This is very normal. The sanding you do between your coats of finish will
smooth this out. This step should only take you 5 to 10 minutes.
Staining
Once you have sanded your piece, wipe off the dust
created by sanding with a dry cloth. You are now ready to stain your piece
of furniture. Stir the stain to be sure it is thoroughly mixed. Using
a cotton cloth (old T-shirt), wipe on the stain with the grain. Do a test
spot in an inconspicuous area so you can be sure of the stain color before
proceeding. Stain one surface area at a time. Once you have stained it,
you should go back over it and smooth out any rag marks you may have created
while staining with a clean rag. Let your stain dry a minimum of 8 hours.
We recommend over night in more humid conditions. If you desire the color
to be a little deeper and darker, add one more coat of stain the same
way you did the first. More than two coats of stain will not do much to
the color. Once the staining is done, do not sand, only sand after the
Clearthane.
Applying The Top Coat
You are now ready to put on your first coat of finish.
Make sure that the stain is completely dry before you put your finish
on. Apply the Clearthane the same way you put on the stain, with a cotton
rag. Again, wipe it with the grain and just what the wood will accept.
Let that coat dry overnight. The next day, lightly sand with the grain
using 600 grit sandpaper or 0000 steel wool. Your piece of furniture is
going to be pretty rough, but this is normal. Wipe off the dust with a
dry cloth. Apply your second coat of Clearthane the same as the first.
Again, lightly sand the entire piece after the second coat is dry. This
time it should be almost completely smooth. Again, wipe off the dust with
a dry rag. This is your last coat of finish. Apply it the same as the
first two. Let it dry overnight. If it is not as smooth as you would like
it to be, you can apply a fourth coat. Sometimes this is needed because
the wood absorbed more of the finish. After your final application, do
not sand. It is ready to use.
Enjoy your masterpiece!
|
Preparing The Surface
Your furniture has been pre-sanded, but most unfinished
pieces need additional fine sanding. Sand lightly over the whole piece
using 100 to 220 grit sandpaper (grit depends on the type of wood). The
objective in pre-sanding is to open the pores of the wood consistently
so it will accept the stain evenly plus, remove any dirt or oil that may
be in the wood during shipping. Also sand any areas that are not very
smooth. You don't need to sand extensively, just enough to get the super
rough areas. The main reason for not sanding much is because once you
put a wet substance on wood, it swells the grain and makes it rough again.
This is very normal. The sanding you do between your coats of finish will
smooth this out. This step should only take you 5 to 10 minutes.
Staining
Using a cloth or foam brush, apply a liberal amount
of Gel Stain to the area of raw wood you are working. Divide your project
into sections: drawer front, table or cabinet top, side of chest, etc.
Keep the area wet with product while applying. Wipe away the excess with
clean cloths or paper towels (use high quality paper towels that are absorbent
- avoid the thin and crispy brands). Change to clean cloths or towels
as they become full of product. Rub out the stain until the color is even,
applying light pressure with your hand until the first layer of stain
evens out in color. As the first coat of stain dries, the appearance will
be dull or dry. Take heart, the beauty of the wood will come alive as
you add subsequent layers of color and top coats. Additional coats of
stain may be applied for a deeper, richer color.
Tip: Keep extra wiping cloths nearby as you work, replacing
them as needed until you remove all excess gel stain. Be sure to remove
all rag marks and smudges, turning and changing cloths as needed. Several
thin coats will give a better result. Use an old dry bristle brush to
remove stain buildup from the corners of molding, bead board, etc.
Applying The Top Coat
You are now ready to put on your first coat of finish
or additional Gel Stain coats. The stain itself contains top coat material
and can be used as a one can finish. If using a gel stain as a one can
finish, we recommend using at least 2-3 coats. For maximum durability,
apply a Topcoat over Gel Stain. Make sure that the stain is completely
dry before you put your finish on. Apply the Clearthane the same way you
put on the stain, with a cotton rag. Again, wipe it with the grain and
just what the wood will accept. Let that coat dry overnight. The next
day, lightly sand with the grain using 600 grit sandpaper or 0000 steel
wool. Your piece of furniture is going to be pretty rough, but this is
normal. Wipe off the dust with a dry cloth. Apply your second coat of
Clearthane the same as the first. Again, lightly sand the entire piece
after the second coat is dry. This time it should be almost completely
smooth. Again, wipe off the dust with a dry rag. This is your last coat
of finish. Apply it the same as the first two. Let it dry overnight. If
it is not as smooth as you would like it to be, you can apply a fourth
coat. Sometimes this is needed because the wood absorbed more of the finish.
After your final application, do not sand. It is ready to use.
Enjoy your masterpiece!
|
