Finishing

Varnish
Sand
Micromesh
Polish
Lining a Box

Varnish

Your choice of varnish will depend on a number of factors.

Water based varnish

Use water-based varnish such as Estapol Speed Clear, and other polyurethanes if you want the colours in your piece to remain true. This is particularly important with cool colours and skin tones.

Use water-based varnish if you are working in a small space such as a flat (apartment).

Oil-based varnish

Use oil-based varnish such as Estapol, Feast Watson, etc if you want a yellowish glow over your piece. These varnishes give an older look which is important if you are creating a yesteryear theme. Warm colours will appear warmer and a little subdued. Cool colours will be warmed, for example, blue will be greenish.

For non-Australian Readers

Most likely you will not be able to find the brands mentioned above in your local hardware store. Check the label of the varnishes you have available to find out which ones say non-yellowing and which do not. If the clean up section of the label says Clean up with water then you know it is water-based.

Applying varnish

Whether you are using water-based or oil-based varnish, you need a brush which is only used for that varnish. It must be kept clean and dust free.

If you are using water-based varnish, clean your brush with a little dishwashing liquid and warm water.

Apply varnish in thin even strokes. Watch for drips on box corners and the sides of vertical objects.

Apply coats at 90° to each other.

Do not attempt to varnish when it's raining or colder than 15° in the room where you are varnishing. Varnish can go cloudy or develop crocodile skin.

Do not rush. Make sure the varnish is dry to touch before applying another coat.

Wipe your piece with a tack cloth before each coat of varnish to remove dust, pet hairs and those transparent little wiggly fibres that land on everything.

Sand

To finish most pieces, I apply 10-15 coats of varnish. Then I wet sand with 600. Sand until the surface feels very smooth. Let it dry overnight. Check for brush marks. If there are still brush marks, sand some more.

Apply three to five coats of your chosen varnish, then wet sand with 1000. Apply the final coat and leave it to set for 3 weeks.

Micromesh

You will need a micromesh kit to polish your piece finely. This kit costs about A$40.

After your piece has set for 3 weeks, it's time to micromesh. There are four grades of mesh in the kit.

Start with 4000. Wrap the mesh around the foam block that came with the kit.
Dampen the foam block and mesh. Rub in one direction for 20 strokes.
Then move to the next section and rub in the same direction for 20 strokes.
Continue in this manner until you have done the whole piece.
Then take the 6000 and rub it in a crosswise direction to the 4000.
Then proceed to the 8000 and the 12000, using each at right angles to the preceding one.

Polish

After you have micromeshed, polish your piece with car wax or furniture wax. Any of the car waxes which contain carnauba wax will give a good polish. Beeswax furniture wax also gives a good polish.

Lining a Box

With Fabric

Lining a box finishes it beautifully, particularly a jewellery box or a trinket box.

Cut a piece of sturdy cardboard to fit into the bottom of the box. It should fall in and out easily, without catching on the sides of the box.
Cut a piece of wadding (polyester quilting stuffing) the same size as the cardboard.
Cut a piece of fabric about 2cm larger on all sides than the cardboard. I use satin or stretch velour.
Put the fabric face down on the table.
Put the wadding down next and put the cardboard on top.
Cut the corners off diagonally so that you won't have a big bulge at the corner.
Pull one edge of the fabric up onto the cardboard and glue it down with PVA glue. Put a weight on it.
Bring each side of the fabric up onto the cardboard and glue down. Leave overnight.
To glue this padded shape into the box, just run a line of PVA on the box bottom close to the sides.
Push the padded shape down into the box and press firmly. Your lining is finished.

The black velvet lining with red ribbon accent completes
the elegant stlye of this box.

With Soft Flock

Soft Flock is the name of a product that can be used to give a box or container a nice soft flocked interior. It comes in a variety of colours. I always paint the inside of the box a similar colour to the colour of the Soft Flock.

Soft Flock comes in two parts. There is a coloured glue type liquid in a bottle.

Paint this onto the inside of the box.
Sprinkle the flock pieces from the second bottle into the box. Be generous.
Close the box.
Shake vigorously for a few seconds.
Pour the excess out onto a piece of clean paper
Use the paper as a funnel to put the excess back into the bottle.
The inside of the box should be covered by a thick even coat of flock.
TIP If you want to flock the inside of the box but not the lid of the box, insert a piece of paper or cardboard between the box and lid, then close the lid and shake. When you remove the paper, the lid will still be clean and the box will be flocked.