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You’re ready to turn your wood finishing project into something you’ll be proud of for years to come. Perfect. Click on the links on the left to learn the essential steps and tips to make sure it turns out better than you’ve ever imagined. Your
Varathane experience is about to begin, have fun. |
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| | Tools you will need | Unlike wood building projects, wood finishing requires only a few tools. We’ve outlined the basic tools you’ll need to complete your next finishing project safely, along with some not-so-basic tools that can make the whole process much faster and easier. |
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| | Gloves: Protect your hands from chemicals with gloves. If you’re using non-toxic products like stains and most finishes, a simple pair of latex or vinyl gloves will do the job just fine. If you’ll be working with chemicals like strippers, use gloves made specifically for working with strong chemicals, such as nitrite gloves. |
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| Safety Goggles: Protect your eyes by wearing safety goggles or glasses when finishing.
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| Dust mask or respirator: If you’re using harsh solvents, it’s a good idea to use a respirator. (It can also be used as a backup Halloween costume.) A dust mask is usually sufficient if you’re not stripping or spraying on your finish. (Always, always read product warnings and directions before starting your project.)
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| Drop cloths: Even if you’re working in your shop or garage, you’ll want to protect the floor with a drop cloth.
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| | Fan: Keep your work area properly ventilated with fans. |
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| | Just in case kit: This kit includes a telephone, first aid kit, eye wash and a fire extinguisher. |
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| Belt sander or orbital sander: Some refinishers choose to sand everything by hand, but we think that using a belt or orbital sander for all but the final sanding is just fine.
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| Sandpaper selection: You’ll need a few different kinds of sandpaper for your project. Start with the coarsest sandpaper and move to the finest. We recommend using 80-grit, 120-grit and 180-grit or higher for a smooth finish.
- Grit Number
- The larger the number, the finer the grit.
- Weight
- "A" weight paper is the lightest, most flexible kind. Best for most jobs.
- Grit Spacing
- For pre-finishing sanding use open coat (more space in between grit to allow escape for dust). For finish sanding use close coat.
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| | Sanding block: Wrapping your sandpaper around a small piece of wood makes application much easier. Many wood finishers choose to line their sanding blocks with cork for comfort. Use a sanding block for large flat areas. |
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| | Special sanding tools: Depending on your project, you may want to use special tools like sanding cords for removing finish from crevices or teardrop sanding blocks. |
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| | Heat gun: If you’re removing paint, a heat gun often does the job without having to depend on harsh chemical strippers. |
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| | Scraper: Use scrapers to remove loosened finishes. Some scrapers come with different sized heads to reach detailed areas. |
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| | Chemical strippers: As a rule of thumb, the safer the stripper, the longer it takes to remove the finish. Be sure to use the stripper that’s best for your workshop and read the directions carefully. |
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| | Cloth rags and paper towels: Many finishers prefer applying stain and some finishes with a cloth rag. Paper towels are great for wiping off residue. Be very careful with your used rags and towels. Lay them out to dry before throwing them away. Rags wet with oil-based products have been known to spontaneously combust. |
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| | Natural bristle paint brush: Use a good quality natural bristle brush for oil-based applications. |
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| | Synthetic paint brush: Use a synthetic paint brush for applying water-based finishes. |
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| | Abrasive tools: Some finishers prefer to apply wax, stain or finish with an abrasive tool like sandpaper or steel wool. |
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| | Foam brush or paint pad: Both provide a smooth finish and no clean-up. Just throw the used brush or pad away when you’re done. |
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| | Spray gun: Although you tend to lose a lot of product in the process due to overspray, some finishers prefer to use a spray gun. Be sure that you have proper ventilation, preferably a spray booth. |
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| | Tape: Always use masking tape made for painting/finishing. |
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| | Storage containers: Keep extra stain in metal storage containers such as quart or gallon cans. |
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| | Chemicals for clean-up: Keep paint thinner and mineral spirits on hand for quick clean-up. |
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| | Plastic wrap: Plastic wrap works well for wrapping wet brushes that will be re-used soon. |
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| | Vegetable oil: Instead of paint thinner, use vegetable oil to clean oil-based finishing products off of your hands. |
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