Hand-Applied Finishing

Class Preview

Achieve flawless finishes on all your woodworking projects. Learn to choose the right materials and apply them by hand using the most effective techniques.

Introduction & Surface Preparation

Meet your instructor, professional woodworking teacher Alan Turner, and learn how to properly prepare wood surfaces in advance of finishing. Learn how to sharpen and use a cabinet scraper to smooth surfaces, then pick up tips for sanding, including end-grain, as well as a technique for raising the grain.

Shellac

Learn why shellac is a great choice as an undercoat or a topcoat as you explore how evaporative finishes work. Alan will share his favorite pre-made shellac and then show how you can make and store your own. Learn how to apply your finish two ways — with a brush and with a pad– to apply even finishes free of streaks or runs.

Sanding In an Oil/Varnish Mixture

Discover when you would want to finish a piece of wood with an oil/varnish mixture as you learn how these reactive finishes work and how to make your own. Then, Alan offers detailed instruction on how to sand in your finish, creating a slurry that is worked into every grain of wood.

Building a Finish With an Oil/Varnish Mixture

Now that you’ve laid in your base coat, see how you build up your finish one layer at a time. Learn which brushes work best when applying this finish and find out when you would want to pad in your finish using a soft cloth. Finally, learn how to safely handle and dispose of this volatile substance.

Gel Varnish

See why gel varnishes are a great finishing option, allowing woodworkers to apply them all over or to a small, damaged area if desired. Then, you’ll learn the proper techniques for applying gel varnishes, pick up troubleshooting tips and see how to remove excess varnish for a smooth, even finish every time.

Waterborne Finishes

Dive into waterborne finishes as you learn why these low-VOC products are a safe alternative. See how to apply the finish on a variety of woods, even on cabinet doors with molded details.

Rubbing Out Your Finish

Once you’ve applied your finish it’s important to rub it out to remove any excess finish and ensure a clean, streak-free appearance. Learn how long you should wait before rubbing out your pieces and discover the proper technique, using steel wool and paste wax.