Be it a spice rack, bookshelf, or table, carpentry projects are never truly done until they are properly stained, sanded, and finished.   This guide will talk through the basics of wood finishing from sanding to standing in your living room.

Sanding Before sanding, make sure the surface is clean.

1. Remove hardware, excess glue, and make sure nails are set and screws are flush or sunken and hidden with wood plugs.
2. Sand with medium-grit paper to smooth down rougher edges or remove old stain.  Remember to sand with the grain in order to bring out the wood’s natural color.
3. Then sand with fine-grit sandpaper to obtain a smoother finish.
4. Finally wipe down the surface to remove any dust.

Wood Preparation If you have nail holes or nicks, using stainable wood filler is a great way to hide them.

1. Using a putty knife, fill the crack or hole.  Remove any access filler, but the filler will shrink after drying, so do not make filler flush with surface.
2. Let filler dry for fifteen minutes before sanding any excess down with fine-grit sandpaper until the filler is flush with the surface.
3. In addition, some soft woods absorb stain too quickly and unevenly, so a light application of wood sealer will help these woods to accept a more even coat of stain.

Test Stain Before you actually stain, test the stain to make sure it is the color you want.  Apply stain to a hidden piece of the project or to a scrap piece of similar wood in the same fashion as listed below.  If the end color is what you desire, proceed to staining.

Staining You should wear gloves for this step.

1. Clean surface and follow with cloth to eliminate remaining dust.
2. Apply stain using a brush, foam brush, or cloth.  Try to get as smooth and even an application as possible.
3. Allow stain to set anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes.  The longer the stain sits, the deeper the color will be.
4. Then, wipe the wood down with a clean cloth going across the grain to work stain into the wood’s pores.  The final wipe should be with the grain. Avoid taking too much stain off of the corners and edges.  If the color is too light, repeat the above steps until the desired color is achieved.
5. Let dry for at least four hours.

Finishing Before finishing, make sure the doors and windows of your work area are open, to avoid inhaling fumes and help the wood dry.

1. Wipe down the surface with a cloth to remove any dust.
2. Brush finish on with the grain in a light, even coat to avoid possible drips and wrinkles.  Make sure your final strokes go from end to end of surface to ensure a smooth, even look.
3. Once complete, have wood dry for 12 hours, before applying another coat.  For extra protection, at least two coats of finish are recommended.
4. Upon the final application of finish, be sure to let the object dry for at least 24 hours before use.

To locate the belt sander user’s manual for the model you own, visit the ManualsOnline Library.