Preparing and Finishing Woodwork

In our first project, let’s take a look at preparing different pane finishes. First of all, we’re going to take a look at painting new woodwork. Begin by rubbing down the wood with sandpaper always remembering to follow the direction of the grain. Never rub against the grain. Now brush down the woodwork with a soft brush. Remove any door fixtures.

On new woodwork it’s advisable to seal the knots otherwise the knots can weep which causes paint to discolor. Apply the knotting with the small brush and leave it to dry. Secondly, pour a small quantity of wood primer into your paint pocket. It’s not recommended to apply paint directly from the can. The reason being to keep out any dusts and dirt and it reduces the time of the paint is in contact with the air. Clean up the pocket after each use.

With the small quantity of paint on a brush, apply on the direction of the grain. Hold the brush as you would a pencil and apply using gentle strokes. Don’t use scrubbing motions. Leave the primer to dry. Now fill the small holes with a good quality filler. Use a spatula to apply it.

Lightly rub down with a fine of grade sandpaper again, following the direction of the grain. Now the door needs to be under coated. Choose the correct under coat that is recommended for your final paint finish. Follow the same procedure as with the primer. That is to say small amounts on the brush applied in the direction of the grain. Long, smooth brush strokes will give a high quality finish.

Cutting in around glass can be achieved with the edge of your brush. Note the technique. Alternatively, the glass can be marked off with tape. Leave the undercoat to dry. Lightly rub down as before. Now apply a top coat. There are many different finishes readily available. For glass, egg shell, and satin wood these are all applied in exactly the same way.

Remove any bristles that happen to come out of the brush. This is more likely to happen with new brushes. Let’s take a look at how to redecorate previously painted wood. Remove any loose flaking with a scraper. Sand down with some fine grain sandpaper. By removing the sanding block, you’ll be able to get well in to any intricate molding. Damp on the paint work and the floor to stop your brush from picking up any dusts when painting.

To remove the paint, grease builder is recommended to clean off the paint work with a good quality de-greaser and cleanser. Here, we’re using a powder form which needs to be mixed with water. Follow the brand’s instructions.

Brush the solution onto the paint work then wipe it down with the damp cloth. Your undercoat can now be applied. Following the same technique as before any bare or exposed wood will need to be primed. After this is dried, sand it down lightly with fine grain sandpaper and finish off with your chosen top coat as before.

Finally, let’s take a look at how to strip old paint work in stained wood. If you're going to use a hot air gun wear protective eyewear and gloves. Hit the paint until it begins to bubble taking care not to overheat it and scorch the wood. Follow along with the scraper removing the paint. Now this process may require us some practice. Now sand down the woodwork with sandpaper. Remember to follow the direction of the grain. Now brush off any dusts.

There are many different colors and finishes of stain available. Choose the one appropriate for your décor. As with all woodworking and finishing techniques, apply a small quantity. Spread evenly following the grain. A second coat may be required but remember to sand down in between coats. The more coats applied the darker the finish will be.