Keeping your finishing cabinet well stocked is a great start to a top-notch finish for your project.
Although every finishing job is a little bit different, there are always a few items that you’ll find yourself reaching for regularly. These are the simple finishing “staples” that you don’t want to have to stop and search for, or make a special trip to buy. So I’ve learned that a good way to make the challenge of applying a quality finish go a lot smoother and turn out better is to always keep these basic supplies “in stock.”
All of these items are easy to come by and pretty inexpensive. And the big benefit is that when you start the job, you’ll have everything you need and you can focus entirely on applying a quality finish.
1
GLOVES, GLASSES, & RESPIRATOR. The first item (actually three) is a safety kit. It starts with solvent-resistant gloves to protect your hands. (I like blue nitrile gloves.) These allow you to focus on applying the finish, instead of worrying about getting it on your hands.
And when a more volatile finish, such as shellac or lacquer, comes out of the cabinet, you’ll want to add a respirator and safety glasses to your wardrobe. Keep these safety items on hand, and using them will soon become second nature.
2
CONTAINERS. I don’t think you can ever have too many glass jars, empty coffee cans, or similar containers in the cupboard. So I hoard them like a miser. Glass jars make perfect, non-reactive finish or stain containers. A coffee can offers a larger capacity and is often my choice for cleaning a brush.
3
STRAINERS. Keeping your cans of finish from becoming contaminated with “foreign matter” can be a losing battle. So my approach is to strain the finish whenever there’s a doubt. A 25¢ strainer is cheap insurance against a “dirty” finish, so I always keep a few on hand. (In a pinch, you can make a strainer from discarded pantyhose.)
4
OPENER & STIR STICKS. Sometimes, the lack of the simplest thing can cause huge frustration. Like having to search high and low for a proper opener to lift the lid on a can of stain or finish. Or then not having a stick to stir up the can and get it ready for application.
Both of these necessities are usually “give aways” at the paint or hardware store. So all it takes is a polite request and you’ll always have them within reach.
5
TACK CLOTHS. A pure finish applied to a dusty surface isn’t a good combination. All those unseen specks of dust and dirt pop right out once the finish goes on. Preventing this problem is a lot easier than trying to fix it afterward. The solution is to always have a tack cloth available to wipe down the surface before the finish goes on. A sticky tack cloth is very thorough and won’t leave any lint, dust, dirt, or worry behind.
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MASKING TAPE. When it comes to finishing, I can’t get along without masking tape. Masking tape allows you a little easier and better control of the process. You simply mask off an area and the stain or finish ends up only where you want it. I like to keep a supply of both the blue, “14-day,” medium- adhesion type and the standard type in 1" and 11⁄2" widths.
7
FOAM BRUSHES. Stock up with an assortment of foam brushes and you’ll be surprised how fast you go through them. A disposable foam brush is a great fill-in for brushing tasks that don’t require a fi ne touch. Brushing on a stain or dye or a quick coat of wiping varnish is easily handled with a foam brush. And time-consuming brush maintenance isn’t a concern.
8
RAGS & PAPER TOWELS. Like containers, I never let a useful rag get away. I don’t have a lifetime supply, but I’m working on it.
Whether it’s staining, applying a finish, or just cleaning up, almost every finishing job requires (or is easier with) a rag. Old T-shirts are my favorite material. If you don’t have any around the house, you can buy them by the box for a few dollars. And I like to have a roll of paper towels within reach as well.
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SOLVENTS. Having the right solvent on hand is essential when applying a finish. If you keep a can of the three common solvents — mineral spirits, lacquer thinner, and denatured alcohol — in the cabinet, you’ll be ready for any job. Mineral spirits is used to thin and clean up paint and varnish. Lacquer thinner will do the same for lacquer products and is a good, general-purpose solvent. And denatured alcohol is the solvent I reach for when working with shellac.
10
ABRASIVES. All finishes benefit from a light sanding between coats — for some, it’s a necessity. So you need a stock of the right abrasives for this job.
This isn’t the same stuff you use to prepare the surface for finishing. This is much finer sandpaper — 220 grit on up. Look for sandpaper that’s labeled as finishing paper. It will last longer and won’t clog. For simple, between-coat sanding, I use 320 or 400 grit. (Special finishes may require even finer grits.)
And I don’t limit myself to sandpaper. Fine abrasive pads work great for “sanding” contoured surfaces. They’ll conform to the surface and you’ll be less likely to cut through the finish at sharp edges.
11
STEEL WOOL. Many finishes benefit from a final rubbing or buffing. This will even out the sheen, remove any small dust specks and leave you with a beautiful, satiny surface. So a package of #0000 steel wool should always be available to handle this job.
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PASTE WAX. A can of paste wax can be a very simple way to enhance a finish. I use it to add the final layer of protection to a simple linseed oil finish. And it’s also an an easy way to even out and enhance the sheen of a finish. So I always know right where to find it. I’ll bet that stocking up with all these supplies won’t set you back more than $100. And when weighed against a hassle-free, top-notch finish, that’s a great value.
