Tips on Finishing Wood

• It is important to determine the species of wood that is going to be finished. Some types of wood (Pine's, Firs, Aspens&Softwoods) are susceptible to blotching. This is when the varying grains in the wood draw stain at different rates causing irregular degree's of color. We highly recommend that a pre-stain conditioner be utilized when working with softwoods to ensure a consistent appearance.
• After selecting the type of material you will be using, it is very important that you test the product on the wood, usually on an inconspicuous location. As you are purchasing our product from the factory outlet you will not have to experiment on your piece of furniture&we have plenty of small pieces available for you to test your finish on. You will see that you can easily vary the appearance of the finish by increasing/decreasing the quantities used and by varying the duration of time the product is allowed to "sit" on the wood.
• Once you have decided on what type and color of finish you will be using, you will need to tailor your finishing supplies to match the base finish. Example: Utilizing a water based stain, you would not want to use steel wool as an abrasive due to the fact that remnants of the steel wool will eventually rust due to the water in the finish. For this type of finish you would select an abrasive pad that doesn't contain steel.
• Remember to read and follow the instruction on the finish, keeping in mind you can experiment and yield a wide variety of results.
• REMEMBER - this will be a rewarding experience, this doesn't require a PHD, and this should be FUN.

• Always sand in the direction of the grain. Random Orbit sanders work well on all types of wood.
• Oak should be sanded to medium smoothness with medium-coarse 120-grit sandpaper. Other woods should be sanded with medium sandpaper, generally no finer than 150-grit.
• If wood fill has been used to cover nicks or holes, be sure the residue has been sanded well. If not, the area around the fill will not stain properly and may have a blotchy look.

• Read and follow the directions on each container. The manufacturer knows its products and will tell you how to get the best results.
• Do a test "doodle" on the piece first on the back, bottom or other inconspicuous area check the stain color before proceeding. Once the stain on the test area has dried, apply a coat of the clear finish on it. If the stain looks evenly coated and you like the look, one coat staining is adequate. If the stain is too light or uneven, a second coat of stain may be needed before the topcoat is applied.
• Pine, aspen and some other woods stain more evenly if a sealer coat is applied before the stain. Check with your dealer to see if this is right for your application.
• Stain one surface at a time, and do the corners and uneven areas first. Do these areas when the applicator has the most stain on it so you can get full penetration. You can then spread the rest on the flat areas.
• As you stain each area, wipe with the grain to remove excess stain, then move to another area. As you finish, go back over the entire piece with a clean rag to pick up all excess stain and wipe the surface dry.

• Do one small area at a time, applying the topcoat with the grain. In corners, you may need to pat the coating on or apply with a circular motion to get full coverage. Just be sure to wipe off any excess immediately with the grain.
• Allow coating to dry. The surface will feel gummy if not fully dry, and drying time will vary depending on weather conditions.
• Sand the dried coating with very fine ##400 or ##600 wet/dry sandpaper to remove any fuzz. Wipe sanded piece with a tack cloth or a rag dampened in mineral spirits to remove debris. (Be sure to dispose of the rag properly.)
• Feel the piece with your hands and sand any areas that still seem fuzzy. Fuzz must be removed before applying additional coats. It will not go away until you take care of it.