Fast Finishing Tips
Follow these helpful hints to finish a woodworking project and you'll be proud to say "I made it myself."
When building your first project with a kid, choose a finishing technique that looks good and takes little time to apply. Avoid paint and other finishes that require a brush, because they can be messy and require lots of cleanup time. These types of finishes also require a long drying time between coats. We like to use spray paint or natural, wipe-on paste or oil finishes. With a wipe-on finish, all you need is a rag to apply it, and there's no danger of drip marks or uneven coverage.
Kids love to see their name in print, so consider using a set of letter stencils and spray paint to personalize a project. Depending on the project, it might be appropriate to stencil large block letters in plain view or to use small letters or carve or write initials on the bottom of a piece to identify the craftsman.
Putting the piece in a vise or on top of a block of wood can make it easy to finish a woodworking project in one setting. In this way, the entire project is raised up from the work surface and can be finished at one time.
Kids love to see their name in print, so consider using a set of letter stencils and spray paint to personalize a project. Depending on the project, it might be appropriate to stencil large block letters in plain view or to use small letters or carve or write initials on the bottom of a piece to identify the craftsman.
Putting the piece in a vise or on top of a block of wood can make it easy to finish a woodworking project in one setting. In this way, the entire project is raised up from the work surface and can be finished at one time.