Finishing both sides of the wood

I am making some shelves and have sanded both sides and the edges nicely. Then when it came to stain the wood I am stumped. How do I stain both sides? If I try to stain just one side, then some stain may leak around the edge onto the other side, and when I finish the other side it may have a streak in it from this stain. Also how does one hold this board? I had my bare fingers on the one side, but then when ready to flip and stain other side, its wet so I didnt want to mes up the stain, but also didn't want to stain one side at a time...Confused :P

And then the polyurethane \o/

Reply to
dnoyeB
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Sounds like you are applying the stain like you would paint.

Apply the stain with a rag and don't use too much and then it won't run. Stain the whole thing then wipe off the excess (as you are supposed to do anyway) this will take care of any runs or streaks. When finished, balance against a wall or on the tips of some nails pionted up from a piece of scrap wood.

Now the Poly you will need to wait for one side to dry before doing the other. I like Varathane for this because it dries very fast and cleans up with water.

Reply to
PipeDown

A trick my dad taught me. It was originally for doors, but I've applied it to other things.

If you're not finishing the edges (or if they'll be hidden anyway), you can use them to support the board. How? Pre-drill a hole on those edges near each corner. Find a long wood screw that's 100% threaded. Cut a small scrap of wood, drill a hole through it, and screw it onto the screw all the way. Now screw the screw into your board "just enough". Now you have four "legs" attached to your board in places where it won't show; you can use these legs to manipulate the board (i.e. flip it over) while finishing it, and to suspend the board while the finish dries. If the scraps happen to be round, you don't have to worry about them tipping over either.

For larger pieces, I put screw-eyes into hidden edges, and suspend them from my shop ceiling. Then I can stand on both sides to finish it. The largest I've done this way was two 100 lb table top halves. They were hung from I-beams via 3/8" threaded rod.

Reply to
DJ Delorie

Varathane cleans up with water IF you buy the water based varnish and not their oil based varnish.

Reply to
Leon

I have successfully put screws into the sides of the shelf and supported the shelves by the screws. Did one side, then flipped it over and did the other side.

Turned out okay.

Chris

Reply to
Chris Friesen

Sweet. I can do that! (not the 100lb table, but the screws). I can even insert some screw catcher or something in the side to make it look like the hole is supposed to be there. Great I'll do that next time.

Reply to
dnoyeB

Put "small" finishing nails in the end of the shelf.

You end up with four nails per shelf.

Use the nails as support by sitting the shelf between two scraps of wood. Stain and wipe one side, then sit the shelf between the supports and stain and wipe the remaining side.

I normally just stain and wipe the entire shelf and don't have to resort to the above method.

The above method is an excellent solution to your poly coating.

dnoyeB wrote:

Reply to
Pat Barber

I drive nails into the ends (that won't be seen) and hang it from them for finishing.

Reply to
CW

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