Wood finishing

A worker sprays a urethane finish onto a timber

Wood finishing refers to the process of embellishing and/or protecting the surface of a wooden material. 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.

Special 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, within 24 hours of spraying, whereas in the US a "rubbed" finish is more common.

Comparison of different clear finishes

Clear finishes are intended to make wood look good and meet the demands to be placed on the finish. Choosing a clear finish for wood involves trade-offs between appearance, protection, durability, safety, requirements for cleaning, and ease of application. The following table compares the characteristics of different clear finishes. 'Rubbing qualities' indicates the ease with which a finish can be manipulated to deliver the finish desired. Shellac should be considered in two different ways. It is used as a finish and as a way to manipulate the wood's ability to absorb other finishes by thinning it with denatured alcohol. The alcohol evaporates almost immediately to yield a finish that is completely safe but shellac will attach itself to virtually any surface, even glass, and virtually any other finish can be used over it.

1 - accentuates visual properties due to differences in wood grain.'

Automated Wood Finishing Applications

Manufacturers who mass produce products implement automated flatline finish systems that run a on a conveyor belt that first begin by being sanded, then dust is removed, and the wood finish is applied via automated spray guns in an enclosed environment or spray cabin. The material then can enter an oven or be sanded again depending on the manufacturer’s setup. The material can also be re-entered into the assembly line to apply another coat of finish or continue in a system that adds successive coats depending on the layout of the production line.

Additionally two very common methods of automating the wood finishing process are: the Hangline approach and the Towline approach.

With the Hangline approach, wood items being painted or finished are hung by carriers or hangers which are attached to a conveyor system that moves the items overhead or above the floor space. The conveyor itself can be ceiling mounted, wall mounted or supported by floor mounts. A simple overhead conveyor system can be designed to move wood products through several wood finishing processes in a continuous loop. Typical wood finishing processes would include sanding, staining, lacquer and sealing. The Hangline approach to automated wood finishing also allows you the option of moving items up to the warmer air space at the ceiling level to speed up drying process.^[1]

The Towline approach to automating wood finishing uses mobile carts that are propelled by conveyors which are mounted in or on the floor. This approach is very useful for moving large, awkward shaped wood products that are difficult or impossible to lift or hang overhead, items such as four-legged wood furniture.

The mobile carts used in the Towline approach can be designed with top platens that rotate either manually or automatically. The rotating top platens allow the operator to have easy access to all sides of the wood item throughout the various wood finishing processes such as sanding, painting and sealing.^[2]

See also

• Wood stain
• Refinishing
• Distressing

References

1. ^ Paint Line Automation - Inexpensive conveyor systems for small shops
2. ^ Towline Conveyor - Transporting heavy or awkward objects

• 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

Wood Finishing Articles & Essays

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• DIYinfo.org's Wood Finishes Wiki - A practical and extensive guide to finishing wood around the house
• Shellac Application Article by Smith & Rodger
• Wood Species and Finishes This page has nice pictures and descriptions of a variety of wood/finish combination, especially in relation to Timber framing.
• Finishes on Antique Wood Furniture - Many different finishes have been used to beautify and protect wood furniture through the centuries.
• To Refinish or Not to Refinish (Antique Furniture) - Collectors and experts have debated the question for many years.
• Finishing for First-Timers Article by Bob Flexner.
• Oil Finishes Article by Bob Flexner on oil and oil-varnish blends
• Antiques Roadshow and Refinishers Refinishing considered harmful, or not?
• Homeshop finishes that work An article comparing and contrasting many popular finishes that can be applied by a DIY'er.
• indonesia wood furniture Article by antonio wood processed finishing
• How to correctly apply wood finishing stain