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Finishing Tips for Waterbased Stains

Supplies Needed

1. Clean rags and paper towels
2. Foam brushes and latex paint pad applicator
3. #100 or #120, and #180 or #220 grit sandpaper for sanding raw wood
4. #320 grit sandpaper and fine 3M buffing pads for buffing in between coats of Top Coat
5. Soap and water for clean up

Surface Preparation

Pre-dampen the furniture with a wet cloth. Let dry thoroughly. To ensure surface are clean of oils and smooth enough for staining, sand all surfaces as follows:

Raw wood - start with #100 or #120 and finish with #180 or #220.

Unfinished Furniture - comes sanded from the factory but still needs to be sanded with a #180 or #220.

Remove all the dust by vacuuming or wiping with a clean cloth.

Note:
1. Do not use tack cloths which contain linseed oil which will affect the finish.
2. To fill nail holes with wood putty there are 2 methods:
3. Fill holes before you stain using a putty that dries hard and can be sanded and stained
4. Stain the wood, apply one Top Coat, then use a water based colored putty that matches the stain.

Helpful Staining Tips

- Remove hardware from furniture.
- Stains may be intermixed to create custom colors or may be lightened by adding Natural Stain.
- A second coat of stain will produce a darker color. Apply no more than 2 coats of stain.
- Do not thin stains with water. Use a stain extender.
- Some stains may be sprayed. Reduce stain 10% to 15% (3 to 4 oz. per quart) using a stain extender.

Application of Stains

Note: Before you begin staining, test the color on the underside of the project.
1. Stir stain well. Stirring reduces the thickness of the stain to a thinner viscosity.
2. Apply with a foam brush, a cloth, or for a larger surface, a latex paint applicator. Apply a wet, liberal coat. It's essential to use liberal amounts of stain to insure easy workability. If too little stain is used, the surface can dry too quickly causing an uneven appearance.
3. Divide you project into manageable sections (top, side, drawer, door).
4. Stain a complete section and wipe off the excess evenly with the grain using a clean cloth. Check for missed spots and lap marks before moving to the next section. You have 10 to 30 minutes to correct a problem area.

Drying Times for Stains

Drying time is normally 2-4 hours under ideal conditions (70 degrees and 70% humidity). Cooler temperatures or higher humidity may extend the dry time to 8-10 hours. Good ventilation and air movement will greatly improve dry time.

Buffing Stains

Buffing stains prior to applying a Top Coat is optional. If you decide to buff, only us a fine 3M abrasive pad. Caution: heavy buffing may remove stain. Note: Do not use steelwool. Stell particles, left behind, will rust after the Top Coat is applied.

Application of Top Coats

Note: if you are applying a Top Coat over oil based stain instead of water based stain, allow the oil stain to dry a minimum of 48 hours under ideal drying conditions. 1. Stir container well to insure that all the ingredients are mixed together. Failure to do so may produce an inconsistent finish.
2. Make sure surface is clean and free of all grease and dirt.
3. Apply with a foam brush, a latex paint pad applicator, or by spraying.
4. Apply Top Coats liberally by using smooth even strokes going in the direction of the grain. Use enough material to provide a wet film. Do not over brush!
5. We recommend a minimum of 3 coats. Additional coats may be applied to increase durability and depth.

Drying Time of Top Coats

Drying time is normally 2-4 hours under ideal conditions (70 degrees and 70% humidity). Cooler temperatures or higher humidity may extend the dry time to 8-10 hours. Good ventilation and air movement will greatly improve dry time.

Buffing Top Coats

After the Top Coat has dried, sand with #320 or finer grit sandpaper or buff with a fine 3M abrasive pad. Remove dust with a clean cloth. It is important to buff in between each coat for the smoothest possible finish. Do not buff final coat. Note: Do not use steelwool. Steel particles, left behind, will rust after top coat is applied. Do not use a tack cloth which may contain linseed oil which will affect the finish.

Cure Time

It is important to let the final top coat cure for a period of 14 days to reach optimum hardness. You may use your project sooner, just treat it with special care during the curing period.

Helpful Top Coat Tips

- Do not pour top coat on to project. Dip the applicator into the can and then apply it to the wood.
- Do not "work" or "scrub" the top coats. Apply quickly and allow them to level out.
- Warming top coats by placing them in hot water makes them flow better for spraying.
- Do not thin top coats with water. use a top coat extender.
- Optional: After the final top coat has dried for 2 days, "rub out" your project by wet sanding with Satin Finishing wax. Wipe on a thin coat of Satin Finishing Wax and lightly sand with #600 or finer grit wet/dry sand paper or 3M fine abrasive pad. Wipe off excess and let dry for 5 minutes, then buff to a rich soft luster.

Cool Stuff Worth Knowing

- Both Stains and Top Coats are non-toxic after drying and are perfect for children's toys and furniture.
- Mix Gloss and Satin together to get a Semi-Gloss.
- Tinting may be accomplished by adding 10 to 20% Stain to a Top Coat.
- Top Coats may be recoated at any time in the future. Simply wipe down the surface with mineral spirits to remove any grease or dirt, lightly sand with #320 or finer, and then apply another coat.

Maintenance

Clean surface with a damp cloth. You may also use Orange or Lemon Oil as a polish/cleaner. Do not use household cleaners or window cleaners. We don't recommend using paste wax because wax builds up and yellows, thus becoming a maintenance problem.

REAL WOOD, FINISHED YOUR WAY!

At Country Furniture we offer 100% solid wood unfinished furniture for every room of the home or office. Our Unfinished Furniture home furniture selections also include bedroom dressers, chests, mirrors, mule chests, beds and headboards. Our living room pieces include lots of coffee tables, end tables, accent and sofa tables and hall tables. We also offer entertainment centers and armoires for TVs or wardrobes. There are lots of writing desks and computer desks, as well as children's and vanity desks. We have counter stools and bar stools, storage benches, serving carts, chairs, dining tables and pie cabinets. We carry stereo cabinets, and TV carts and stands. Our outdoor selection of patio and outdoor furniture features the following wood species, Teak, Cedar, Meranti and Eucalyptus. Everything is built with solid woods, including Alder, Oak, Maple, Parawood, and Pine in styles such as shaker, mission, country, traditional and contemporary. No particle board is used anywhere. We carry a large and ever changing selection of home décor and gifts. We are Canada's largest Online Store for Unfinished Furniture. We always keep adding new items, so check back often.