A Quick and Dirty Furniture Finishing How To

For the DIY lover there isn’t anything much more relaxing and rewarding than finishing new wood furniture pieces! Here is a general process (steps may change depending on your furniture piece, wood type, and the finishing product you use. Please refer to your finishing product for more information).

A couple tips before you get started:

• finishing is easiest with pieces disassembled
• practice application of finishing products on underside of pieces first

Stain

1. Sand pieces with 150 grit sandpaper with the grain. 
2. Apply stain with a sponge or cloth and wipe off with a second cloth.
3. After the stain has dried completely, apply the first coat of sealant using your paint/foam brush.
4. Ensure sealant is completely dry (drying times will vary, see finishing product directions for time frames), then sand sealant with 320 grit sandpaper, ensuring that piece is smooth.
5. Apply a second coat of sealant. Repeat step four and five for additional durability (highly recommended for high use items such as dining tables). 
6. Allow sealant to dry completely before use/assembly.
7. Enjoy your new furniture!

Paint

1. Sand pieces with 150 grit sandpaper with the grain. 
2. Apply paint with a sponge/paint brush.
3. Ensure paint is completely dry (drying times will vary, see finishing product directions for time frames), then sand paint with 320 grit sandpaper, ensuring that the piece is smooth.
4. Apply a second coat of paint. Repeat step four and five for additional durability (highly recommended for high use items such as dining tables). 
5. Allow paint to dry completely before use/assembly.
6. Enjoy your new furniture!