Woodworking Finishes

To achieve a great finished piece of woodwork, start with a good sanding job. Sandpaper comes in different grits. Starting with coarse and working down to fine or super fine will give you a good finish. Hand sanding the last step will help you have a great finish.

Like sand paper, there are several types of finishes. There are four finishes that seem to stand out. They are a poly gel, shellac, a WunderCote, and poly/oil. Each has its own characteristics, qualities, appearance on the wood, durability and usage of the product.

The poly gel finish is easy to apply. It does not fade and the stain's finish gets better with more coats. This finish is great when used on woodwork, moldings, chairs, chests and dressers.

Shellac dries very fast and matches antique finishes as it can be tinted for different wood tones. However, shellac is not completely water resistant.

WunderCote finish has a fast drying time. To apply this, just wipe on. With this type of finish, it takes less sanding. The appearance looks more like a varnish finish with an amber cast. It comes in gloss and semi-gloss. This finish is very durable and can be used on furniture and table tops.

The poly/oil finish is easy to use, and gives a beautiful finish that looks very professional. When the poly/oil is used by itself, you will get a satin to semi-glossy look and good durability. When used with oil or wax, you can get the look of museum quality furniture.