The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Furniture Finishing

All removable portions should be removed and coated after removing. No one can do good work unless this is done. All drawers should be coated carefully on the edges so as not to overlap the finish on the inside of the drawer, as it cannot be wiped off like varnish if coated over another material.

In setting down a brush containing shellac, be sure that it has plenty of material in it and start the brush, in motion as soon as you can, drawing it two-thirds across the piece to be coated and then go back from the opposite end, overlapping the first stroke. This applies principally on narrow surfaces where there is an offset or ledge to work from or panels.

Lacquer Material Brushing.—Be sure to read the directions above on shellac coating and then read these special directions for the application of lacquer materials. There is little difference in the application of transparent lacquer materials or opaque pigment lacquers; they are both difficult of brush application as a second coat over the same material. The clear lacquer is less difficult over a shellac coating as it does not pull up the finish as much or sink into the pores as much as over a lacquer first coat. The colored pigment lacquer materials are usually brushed over a coating of the same material and there is little alternative as to what material to use, as they are about all of the same basic materials. Some are more easily brushed than others. It is simply a question of thinning out the material to permit a quick flowing liquid and putting it on as quickly as possible. The next quality to be developed is some material that will not brush up when the second coat is flowed over it and brushed out. It seems the only thing to do at the present is to develop a technique for distributing lacquer over a coated surface with the brush as quickly as possible and as smoothly as possible. It can be done and, of course, anyone can do it with enough practice.

Varnish or Enamel Brushing.—This is the easiest of all brushing materials, especially the varnish. You need not rash, in fact, you must not rush your work, as the materials require a good brushing out to cover the surface thoroughly. The surface must be sanded and dusted well and cleaned with a tack rag (rag soaked in oil varnish and hung up to get tacky) before it is placed into the finishing room for coating. The tack rag is the finest thing to pick up the little dust particles left by the duster, and any little particles of dust will leave a rough place in the varnish when dry. Sufficient dust will collect on the surface no matter how careful you are in cleaning up and sprinkling the floor and having all your clothes and tools free from dust.