Every finishing job is a little different, but there are certain supplies we reach for again and again.
They're not expensive specialty tools. Most are simple items like gloves, containers, rags, sandpaper, tape, and brushes. But discovering you're missing one halfway through a finishing job can bring the entire process to a halt.
Keeping a well-stocked wood finishing cabinet means you can concentrate on applying a great finish instead of searching the shop or making an unexpected trip to the store.
Here are 12 finishing supplies worth keeping within easy reach.
1. Gloves, Safety Glasses & Respirator
Safety gear deserves the first spot on the list.
A box of solvent-resistant nitrile gloves protects your hands while mixing, applying, and cleaning up finishes. They're inexpensive enough to keep near your finishing supplies so there's little reason to work without them.
Safety glasses provide protection against splashes.
Respiratory protection depends on the product and how it's being applied. Some finishes and solvents require appropriate respiratory protection as well as adequate ventilation.
Check the product's label and safety information before starting and make sure the protective equipment you're using is appropriate for the finish.
Woodsmith Tip: Store Safety Gear with Your Finishes. Don't keep your gloves on one side of the shop and your respirator somewhere else. Store the equipment where you prepare your finishes so reaching for it becomes part of your normal routine.
2. Finishing Containers
It's difficult to have too many clean containers around a finishing area.
Glass jars are especially handy for holding smaller quantities of finish or stain. They're also useful when you're mixing or thinning a finish and don't want to work directly from the original container.
Larger metal containers can be useful for jobs such as cleaning brushes.
Whatever container you choose, make sure its material is compatible with the finish or solvent you're putting into it.
And label any container that will be stored. You don't want an unidentified jar of clear liquid sitting in the finishing cabinet.
3. Paint & Finish Strainers
Dust, dried finish, and other debris have an annoying way of finding their way into a can. A disposable paint strainer is inexpensive insurance against transferring that contamination to your project.
If you see debris in the finish or have any doubt about its cleanliness, strain it into a clean container before application.
It's much easier to remove contamination from the finish before it goes on than to sand it out afterward.
4. Can Opener & Stir Sticks
They're about as basic as finishing supplies get, but you'll miss them immediately when they're not there.
Keep a dedicated paint-can opener with your finishing supplies rather than prying lids open with whatever happens to be nearby. A proper opener also reduces the chance of damaging the lid or rim, which can make resealing the can difficult.
Keep a supply of clean stir sticks nearby as well.
Many finishes need to be stirred thoroughly before and sometimes during use to keep their components evenly distributed.
5. Tack Cloths & Dust Removal Supplies
Careful surface preparation doesn't help much if the workpiece is covered with sanding dust when the finish goes on.
A tack cloth is one option for picking up fine dust immediately before finishing.
Wipe the surface lightly rather than pressing aggressively. And as with any surface-preparation product, make sure it's appropriate for the finish you're about to apply.
The goal is simple: Start with a clean surface so dust doesn't become part of the finish.
6. Painter's & Masking Tape
Tape is one of those supplies that finds a use on almost every project.
Use it to mask areas that shouldn't receive stain or finish, protect adjoining surfaces, mark areas during the finishing process, and control where an application begins and ends.
It's useful to keep several widths and adhesion levels available. A general-purpose painter's tape works for many tasks, while standard masking tape can handle jobs where longer-term removability isn't important.
Always consider how long the tape will remain in place and the surface you're applying it to.
7. Foam Brushes
A supply of inexpensive foam brushes is handy for quick finishing jobs where you don't need or want to clean a quality bristle brush afterward.
They can work well for applying compatible stains, dyes, and finishes, particularly on smaller projects and parts.
The important word is compatible. Solvents in some finishing products can attack foam, so check the product directions before choosing a foam applicator.
RELATED ARTICLE: How to Choose the Right Applicator for Wood Finish
8. Cotton Rags & Paper Shop Towels
Finishing uses an amazing number of rags. They're useful for applying wiping finishes and stains, removing excess finish, cleaning up, and handling countless small jobs around the finishing area.
Old cotton T-shirts make excellent finishing rags. The material is soft, absorbent, and relatively lint-free.
Heavy-duty paper shop towels are useful to have nearby as well. They're convenient for cleanup and small wiping jobs where you don't need the durability of cloth.
Handle Oil-Soaked Rags Safely
Rags used with drying oils and some oil-based finishing products can create a fire hazard as the finish cures.
Never leave oily rags crumpled together on a bench or toss wet rags directly into ordinary trash. Heat can build as the finish oxidizes.
Follow the finish manufacturer's instructions for handling and disposal. When appropriate for the product and local requirements, spread used rags out individually in a safe location away from combustible materials so heat can't accumulate as they dry.
This is one finishing habit worth making automatic.
9. Finishing Solvents
Different finishes require different solvents, so it's useful to keep the appropriate products on hand for the finishes you regularly use.
Common examples include mineral spirits, lacquer thinner, and alcohol intended for compatible shellac products.
These may be used for thinning, brush cleanup, or other tasks depending on the finish.
Don't treat solvents as interchangeable, however. Check the finish manufacturer's instructions to determine which solvent — if any — should be used for thinning and cleanup.
Keep solvent containers tightly closed when they're not being used and store them according to the manufacturer's directions.
RELATED ARTICLE: Guide to Common Wood Finishing Solvents
10. Fine Sandpaper & Abrasive Pads
The abrasives used during finishing are generally much finer than those used for initial surface preparation.
Keep a selection of fine sandpaper starting around 220 grit and moving into 320- and 400-grit available for leveling and between-coat work when the finish calls for it.
For many between-coat sanding jobs, 320- or 400-grit provides a good starting point.
Fine abrasive pads are worth adding to the cabinet, too. Because they're flexible, they're especially useful for profiles, curves, moldings, and other contoured surfaces where ordinary sandpaper can be awkward.
They can also make it easier to work around edges without aggressively cutting through the finish.
Woodsmith Tip: Check Before Sanding. Not every finish needs to be sanded between every coat. Follow the finishing schedule for the product you're using. When sanding is called for, the goal is generally to level imperfections or provide the appropriate surface for the next coat — not remove the finish you've already applied.
11. #0000 Steel Wool
For finishes that are compatible with it, #0000 steel wool can be useful during the final rubout. The very fine abrasive can help remove small surface imperfections and even out the sheen, leaving a smooth, satin surface.
As with any abrasive, don't automatically use steel wool on every finish. Consider the finish itself and the desired final sheen before rubbing out the surface.
For water-based finishing systems in particular, a compatible synthetic abrasive pad may be a better choice.
12. Paste Wax
Finally, it's worth keeping a can of paste wax in the finishing cabinet. Wax can be used as a final step on compatible finishes to refine the sheen and leave the surface feeling smooth.
It can also be part of simpler finishing schedules, including certain oil-and-wax finishes.
Apply it in a thin layer, allow it to set as directed, and buff the surface to the desired sheen.
Just remember that wax becomes part of the finishing system. If a project may need another film finish later, the wax will need to be considered during surface preparation.
Build a Finishing Kit Before You Need It
You don't need a cabinet full of expensive specialty equipment to get started with wood finishing. The most useful supplies are often the simplest: protective equipment, clean containers, strainers, stir sticks, tape, applicators, rags, solvents, and fine abrasives.
The trick is having them ready before you open the finish can.
Keep these basics together in a dedicated cabinet or finishing kit, replenish them as they're used, and you'll be ready when the next project reaches the finishing stage.
Choose the Right Applicator
You've stocked the cabinet — now make sure you're reaching for the right applicator. Natural and synthetic brushes, foam brushes, rags, and finishing pads each work best in different situations.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT APPLICATOR → How to Choose the Right Applicator for Wood Finish
Not Sure Which Finish to Use?
Oil, shellac, varnish, polyurethane, and other finishes all have their place. Learn how durability, appearance, application, and the way a project will be used can help determine the best option.
EXPLORE WOOD FINISH OPTIONS → Best Wood Finish: How to Choose the Right Finish for Any Project
