Information about Wood Finishing
Wood finishing refers to the process of embellishing and/or protecting the surface. The process starts with surface preparation, either by sanding by hand (typically using a sanding block) or power sander, scraping, or planing. Imperfections or nail holes on the surface may be filled using wood putty or pores may be filled using wood filler. Often, the wood's colour is changed by staining, bleaching, ammonia fuming and a number of other techniques. Some woods such as pine or cherry do not take stain evenly, resulting in "blotching". To avoid blotching, a barrier coat such as shellac or "wood conditioner" is applied before the stain. Gel stains are also used to avoid blotching.
Once the wood surface is prepared and stained, a number of coats of finish may be applied, often sanding between coats. Commonly used wood finishes include wax, shellac, drying oils (such as linseed oil or tung oil), lacquer, varnish, or paint. Other finishes called "oil finish" or "Danish Oil" are actually thin varnishes with a relatively large amount of oil and solvent. Water-based finishes can cause what is called "raising the grain" where surface fuzz emerges and requires sanding down.
Finally the surface may be polished or buffed using steel wool, pumice, rottenstone and other polishing or rubbing compounds depending on the shine desired. Often, a final coat of wax can be applied over the finish to add a slight amount of protection.
French polishing is not polishing as such, but a method of applying many thin coats of shellac using a rubbing pad, yielding a very fine glossy finish.
Different tools used to apply wood finishes include rags, rubbing pads, brushes, and spray guns. The processes involved and the terminology for the materials used are quite different in Britain than the processes and terms used in the USA. For instance, the process of replicating the look and feel of traditional French polished wood is more commonly done in the UK by "pulling over" precatalysed lacquer, whereas in the US a "rubbed" finish is more common. Americans also seem to be more casual in their approach to wood finishing, using products available from local hardware stores. In Britain supplies are more often ordered via the manufacturer representative and are for "Professional Use Only" without instructions appearing on the tin.
Shellac is a brittle or flaky secretion of the lac insect Kerria lacca, found in the forests of Assam and Thailand. Freed from wood it is called "seedlac".
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Shellac is a brittle or flaky secretion of the lac insect Kerria lacca, found in the forests of Assam and Thailand. Freed from wood it is called "seedlac".
..... Click the link for more information.
Once the wood surface is prepared and stained, a number of coats of finish may be applied, often sanding between coats. Commonly used wood finishes include wax, shellac, drying oils (such as linseed oil or tung oil), lacquer, varnish, or paint. Other finishes called "oil finish" or "Danish Oil" are actually thin varnishes with a relatively large amount of oil and solvent. Water-based finishes can cause what is called "raising the grain" where surface fuzz emerges and requires sanding down.
Finally the surface may be polished or buffed using steel wool, pumice, rottenstone and other polishing or rubbing compounds depending on the shine desired. Often, a final coat of wax can be applied over the finish to add a slight amount of protection.
French polishing is not polishing as such, but a method of applying many thin coats of shellac using a rubbing pad, yielding a very fine glossy finish.
Different tools used to apply wood finishes include rags, rubbing pads, brushes, and spray guns. The processes involved and the terminology for the materials used are quite different in Britain than the processes and terms used in the USA. For instance, the process of replicating the look and feel of traditional French polished wood is more commonly done in the UK by "pulling over" precatalysed lacquer, whereas in the US a "rubbed" finish is more common. Americans also seem to be more casual in their approach to wood finishing, using products available from local hardware stores. In Britain supplies are more often ordered via the manufacturer representative and are for "Professional Use Only" without instructions appearing on the tin.
Comparison of different clear finishes as used in America
Choosing a clear finish for wood involves trade-offs between appearance, protection and durability, safety, ease of application, reversibility, and rubbing qualities. The following table compares the characteristics of different clear finishes. "Rubbing qualities", a term of art, indicates the ease with which the finish can be sanded between coats. It does not indicate a method of application such as brush or rag.| Appearance | Protection | Durability | Safety | Ease of Application | Reversibility | Rubbing Qualities | |
| Wax | Creates shine | Very little | Does not last and needs to be reapplied frequently | Safe when solvents in paste wax evaporate | Applied with rag, needs buffing | Can easily be removed with solvents | Needs to be buffed |
| Shellac | Some yellow or orange tint, depending on grade used | Fair against water, good on solvents except alcohol | Durable | Safe when solvent evaporates, used as food and pill coating | French polishing difficult technique to master. | Completely reversible using alcohol | Excellent |
| Nitrocellulose lacquer | Transparent, good gloss | Good protection | Hard and durable | Uses toxic solvents, including toluene. Breathing protection is needed, especially if sprayed | Requires spray equipment. Brush-on products also available | Completely reversible using lacquer thinner | Excellent hard finish |
| Conversion lacquer | Transparent, good gloss | Excellent protection against many substances | Hard and durable | Uses toxic solvents, including toluene. Breathing protection is needed, especially if sprayed | Requires spray equipment. Used in professional shops | Difficult to reverse | Excellent hard finish |
| Linseed oil | Yellow warm glow, pops grain, darkens with age | Very little | Fairly durable, depending on number of coats | Relatively safe, metallic driers are poisonous | Easy, apply with rags and wipe off. Takes relatively long time to dry | Needs sanding out as oil is absorbed | None |
| Tung oil | Warm glow, pops grain, lighter than linseed | Very little | Fairly durable, depending on number of coats | Relatively safe, metallic driers are poisonous | Easy, apply with rags and wipe off. Faster to dry than linseed oil | Needs sanding out as oil is absorbed | None |
| Alkyd varnish | Not as transparent as lacquer, yellowish/orange tint | Good protection | Durable | Relatively safe, uses petroleum based solvents | Brush or spray. Brushing needs good technique to avoid bubbles & streaks | Can be stripped using paint removers | Fair |
| Polyurethane varnish | Transparent, many coats can look like plastic | Excellent protection against many substances, tough finish | Durable | Relatively safe, uses petroleum based solvents | Brushing needs good technique to avoid bubbles & streaks | Can be stripped with difficulty using paint removers | Bad, coats do not meld leading to white rings if rubbing out cuts through coat |
| Water-based polyurethane | Transparent, may give cold bluish tinge to wood | Good protection | Durable | Safer than oil-based, fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Brush or spray. Brushing needs good technique to avoid bubbles & streaks | Can be stripped with difficulty using paint removers | Bad, coats do not meld leading to white rings if rubbing out cuts through coat |
| Oil-varnish mixes | Similar to oils unless many coats applied, then takes on characteristics of varnishes | Low, but more than pure oil finishes | Fairly durable, depending on number of coats | Relatively safe, uses petroleum based solvents | Easy, apply with rags and wipe off. Faster to dry than linseed oil | Needs sanding out as oil is absorbed | None unless many coats applied |
References
- Michael Dresdner (1992). The Woodfinishing Book. Taunton Press. ISBN 1-56158-037-6
- Bob Flexner (1994). Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87596-566-0
See also
Wood Finishing Articles & Essays
- - A practical and extensive guide to finishing wood around the house
- Choosing a Finish Article by Jeff Jewitt
- Finishes on Antique Wood Furniture - Many different finishes have been used to beautify and protect wood furniture through the centuries.
- Finishing for First-Timers Article by Bob Flexner.
- Painting Furniture Learn how you can antique paint furniture
- Oil Finishes Article by Bob Flexner on oil and oil-varnish blends
- To Refinish or Not to Refinish (Antique Furniture) - Collectors and experts have debated the question for many years.
- Homeshop finishes that work An article comparing and contrasting many popular finishes that can be applied by a DIY'er.
- To Refinish or not to Refinish? Hobbithouse Refinishing -- An essay providing guidance for the antique furniture owner with regard to refinishing, restoration and preservation.
How To Videos
Applying Waterbased Finishes YouTube Vid Sandpaper is a form of paper where an abrasive material has been fixed to its surface.
Sandpaper is part of the "coated-abrasives" family of abrasive products. It is used to remove small amounts of material from surfaces, either to make them smoother (painting and wood
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Sandpaper is part of the "coated-abrasives" family of abrasive products. It is used to remove small amounts of material from surfaces, either to make them smoother (painting and wood
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A sanding block is a block used to hold sandpaper. In its simplest form, it is a block of wood or cork with one smooth flat side. The user wraps the sandpaper around the block, and holds it in place. Fancier versions use clips, teeth or clamps to hold the paper in place.
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sander is a power tool used to smooth wood and automotive or wood finishes. Sanders have a means to attach the sandpaper that does the work. Woodworking sanders are usually operated by electrical power while the ones used in auto-body repair work on compressed air.
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A card scraper (also known as a cabinet scraper) is a woodworking shaping and finishing tool. It is used to manually remove small amounts of material and excels in tricky grain areas where hand planes would cause tear out.
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plane is a tool for shaping wood. Planes are used to flatten, reduce the thickness of, and impart a smooth surface to a rough piece of lumber. Special types of planes are designed to cut joints or decorative mouldings.
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Wood filler, also known as Wood putty or Plastic wood, is a substance used to fill imperfections, nail holes or pores in wood prior to finishing. "Wood putty" or "plastic wood" usually refer to the thicker version used to fix imperfections and small holes, while "Wood
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Wood filler, also known as Wood putty or Plastic wood, is a substance used to fill imperfections, nail holes or pores in wood prior to finishing. "Wood putty" or "plastic wood" usually refer to the thicker version used to fix imperfections and small holes, while "Wood
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A Wood stain, is a sub-category of paint, consists of a pigment suspended in a "vehicle" of solvent and binding agent (alkyd, linseed oil, acrylic, polyurethane, lacquer, or resin).
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bleach is a chemical that removes color or whitens, often via oxidation. Common chemical bleaches include "chlorine bleach", a solution of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), and "oxygen bleach", which contains hydrogen peroxide or a peroxide-releasing compound
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Ammonia is a compound with the formula NH3. It is normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of the planet as a precursor to foodstuffs and fertilizers.
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Pinus
L.
Subgenera
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L.
Subgenera
- Subgenus Strobus
- Subgenus Ducampopinus
- Subgenus Pinus
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P. serotina
Binomial name
Prunus serotina
Ehrh.
The Black Cherry (Prunus serotina
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Binomial name
Prunus serotina
Ehrh.
The Black Cherry (Prunus serotina
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For the post-punk band, see .
Shellac is a brittle or flaky secretion of the lac insect Kerria lacca, found in the forests of Assam and Thailand. Freed from wood it is called "seedlac".
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gel (from the Latin gelu "freezing, cold, ice" or gelatus "frozen, immobile") is a colloidal system in which a porous network of interconnected nanoparticles spans the volume of a liquid medium. In general, gels are apparently solid, jelly-like materials.
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Wax has traditionally referred to a substance that is secreted by bees (beeswax) and used by them in constructing their honeycombs.
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For the post-punk band, see .
Shellac is a brittle or flaky secretion of the lac insect Kerria lacca, found in the forests of Assam and Thailand. Freed from wood it is called "seedlac".
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drying oil is an oil which hardens to a tough, solid film after a period of exposure to air. The term "drying" is actually somewhat of a misnomer - the oil does not harden through the evaporation of water or other solvents, but through a chemical reaction in which oxygen is
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Linseed oil, also known as flax seed oil, is a yellowish drying oil derived from the dried ripe seeds of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum, Linaceae). It is obtained by pressing, followed by an optional stage of solvent extraction.
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Tung oil is used as a wood finishing product. It has two distinct meanings, pure tung oil and tung oil finishes, which are often confused.
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Pure tung oil
Tung oil is made from the pressed seed from the nut of the tung tree...... Click the link for more information.
lacquer is a clear or coloured coating, that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss and that can be further polished as required.
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Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. Varnish is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a thinner or solvent.
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Paint is any liquid, liquifiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film.
Paint is used to protect, decorate (such as adding color), or add functionality to an object or surface by covering it
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Paint is used to protect, decorate (such as adding color), or add functionality to an object or surface by covering it
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'Danish oil' or Polymerized Linseed oil is, in its unadulterated/pure state, a non-toxic, wood finishing oil, similar to Tung oil.
However, like tung oil, it is often used in various finishes with the addition of solvents or other substances, that are often toxic.
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However, like tung oil, it is often used in various finishes with the addition of solvents or other substances, that are often toxic.
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Polishing is the process of creating a smooth and shiny surface by using rubbing or a chemical action.
In metallography polishing is used to create a flat, defect free surface for examination of a metal's microstructure under a microscope.
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In metallography polishing is used to create a flat, defect free surface for examination of a metal's microstructure under a microscope.
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Steel wool is a bundle of strands of very fine soft steel filaments, used in finishing and repair work to polish wood or metal objects, and for household cleaning. It is manufactured by drawing ”steel wool wire”, made from low carbon steel (low enough to be
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Pumice is a textural term for a volcanic rock that is a solidified foam composed of highly microvesicular glass pyroclastic with very thin, translucent bubble walls extrusive igneous rock. It is commonly, but not exclusively of silicic or felsic to intermediate in composition (e.g.
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Rotten stone, sometimes spelled as one word, and also known as tripoli, is fine powdered rock used as a polishing abrasive in woodworking. It is usually weathered limestone mixed with diatomaceous, amorphous, or crystalline silica.
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French Polishing is a wood finishing technique (and not a substance, as commonly assumed) for wooden furniture that results in a very high gloss, deep colour and tough surface. It consists of applying many thin coats of shellac using a rubbing pad.
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brush refers to a variety of devices mainly with bristles, wire or other filament of any possible material used mainly for cleaning, grooming hair, make up making painting, deburring and other kinds of surface finishing, but also for many other purposes like (but not limited to)
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Spray painting is painting using a device that sprays the paint.
There are several different technologies for doing this.
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There are several different technologies for doing this.
- Canned spray paint: The most common type in the consumer market is an aerosol can of spray paint.
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