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Custom Finishing
Whether you plan on buying a cabinet
or a wall unit you will want to have
a finish on them which is shiny and
smooth. Custom finishing plays an
important role in the construction
of cabinets, entertainment centers,
and wall units. There are a variety
of different methods for applying
finishing to wood. Here we will go
over the different methods used to
apply finish to a wide variety of
different wood furniture.
Finish is typically baked onto the
wood surface using a gas furnace
fire. When the finish is baked onto
the surface, the surface becomes
very durable. The finish gloss that
is used is called a sheen. Some
sheens which are common are satin
and matte. Objects which use a matte
custom finishing will typically
feature an old world oil type look.
Satin tends to have a much lower
luster. Expensive cabinets or wall
units may have a finish which is
hand rubbed onto their surface.
Objects which use this type of
finish must go through several
steps. It first has a catalyzed
varnish baked onto it. This can
serve as the top coat. Another
invisible coat may be placed under
it. A final coat is then baked on,
and skilled hand polishing is then
used to make sure the final product
has a beautiful sheen and luster.
Many companies also offer glazed
finishing. The number of steps
involved in the finishing will
dictate how much the customer
spends.
Objects which only have one step of
custom finishing will be the least
expensive, while those who have
multiple steps will be much more
costly. One of the most common
finishing method is the crackle. The
goal of a crackle is to make your
cabinets or furniture appear to be
aged. Cracks are made on the
surface. Many companies spray on a
crackle lacquer, and the size of the
cracks made is determined by the
amount you use. Finer cracks can be
made by spraying on small amounts,
while larger cracks can be made by
spraying on large amounts.
A primer is usually added to the
desired base color. The manufacturer
will then have to sand the surface
to make it smooth. A smooth surface
will allow cracks to be made much
more easily. After this the crackle
lacquer can be applied to the
surface. If you are doing this
yourself you may want to practice on
sample boards to make sure you find
the right crackle size. After doing
this the sealer is applied to the
surface.
The wood must be prepared for the
finish prior to placing anything on
it. Choosing the right type of wood
is the first thing which must be
done. Each type of wood has its
advantages and disadvantages. When
choosing the wood you will need to
look for warping, twists, or marks
made by machines. These things could
make the wood low in quality, and
will not showcase the look you want.
It is also important to look at the
grain patterns when choosing which
type of wood you want to use.
When wood is prepared, it must first
be smooth. Any sharp edges or
corners must be removed. After this
they must be sand. The sanding dust
will then need to be removed using a
vacuum. After this a coat will need
to be applied to make sure the stain
color is absorbed. You will then
need to wait for this coat to dry.
It will act as a type of
conditioner. Once it is dry you will
want to apply a base stain. A brush
or cloth should be used to place it
on the wood.
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