Most stains should be sealed to prevent bleeding. After smoothing the stained wood, apply a sealer coat of thinned shellac, sanding sealer, or other appropriate sealer. Do not use shellac with NGR or water-base stains. If you plan to finish the piece with polyurethane, make sure the sea...
Rub some denatured alcohol on the finish with an old paintbrush and rag and watch for it to change. If it softens and turns into something like a sticky gum, the wood has a shellac finish. If nothing happens, try using a lacquer thinner. If the finish begins dissolving, then the wood ...
1″- 1 1/2″ wood screws– for attaching the branches to the trunk. (The exact size you’ll need depends on how thick the wood you use is.) It’s a good idea to useexterior screwsif your trees will be outdoors. 1 1/4″ pocket screws– for attaching the trunk to the base. If...
(If the piece doesn’t have a real heavy existing finish or multiple layers of paint, you may not even want to use Citristrip…use your judgment! Skip to Step 2 and use just the acetone and lacquer thinner mixture.) To apply the Citristrip, I use a cheap “chip” brush to apply it...
For wood that has been finished before, I like to use thisKilz latex primer* or thisZinsser latex primer*. They are both water based which makes it fairly easy to clean up. However for unfinished wood, thisshellac-based primer* works best. ...
Once the epoxy has cured, use a block plane or power sander to trim the keys flush to the slab surface. Then sand smooth. Space keys along the crack's length in proportion to the slab size. Install keys on both faces to further protect against future splits; they don't need to align...
To determine the finish type, begin with a drop or two of denatured alcohol on an inconspicuous location and let it sit for a few seconds. Then use a brush or rag to touch the spot. If it has softened and become a little sticky, the finish is shellac. ...
To use dye for coloring in dings and scratches, dip the tip of a small artists brush into some shellac and then pick up a tiny bit of the alcohol-soluble powder on the tip of the brush. Spread the concentrated color on paper or scrap wood until the color becomes even and about the ...
Depending on your cell phone, you may not need a separate DSLR camera to get started. You can take advantage of cell phone filters to adjust the lighting. Regardless of what you use, check to ensure the photo’s location is not included in the photo’s metadata. LED Lights Natural light...
After the paint is completely dry, apply two coats of wax on the piece using a wax brush. I don’t wait for the first coat of wax to dry before I apply the second coat. A tip when waxing, less is more! Dark Wax is optional. Use it if you want to bring out details and/or li...