What’s the Best Recipe for a Smooth Finish on Indoor Wood Furniture?

Q: How can I apply a smooth finish on indoor wood? I’m never satisfied with the quality of finish I manage to achieve on my indoor wood projects. Even when I use tack cloths to wipe down the surface, and take care to not overload the brush, I always (and I mean ALWAYS!) get these hard, little bumps on the surface when I’m done. I've tried many different brushes and brands of urethane, and have even considered using spray-on lacquer if that would accomplish anything. Is there any way I can get a decent finish on my furniture projects without setting up a professional spray booth?

A: I'm sorry you're having trouble, but you shouldn't feel badly. Most people have the same difficulties you do. Here's a finishing recipe that I know works perfectly.

Get some oil-based urethane (I prefer a satin sheen) and a natural bristle brush and smooth the bare wood parallel with the grain using a progression of sandpapers up to 220-grit.
Moisten the surface with a wet rag to raise the wood grain, then let dry for 2 days.
Sand again with 220-grit sandpaper only, then vacuum all the particles off your project and entire finishing area.

Brush on a coat of unthinned urethane and let it dry for a day. Brush on another coat, and after it's fully dry, sand the surface with 220-grit paper using a palm sander.
Vacuum again, coat again and sand again, for two more coats. That'll be four in all.
After all of the above you should find the surface is quite nice. Any remaining hardened dust particles can be removed by rubbing with 000 steel wool or a 3M rubbing pad. If you want a more refined finish, sand the area by hand with 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper, lubricated with plenty of water after the last coat. Finish by buffing the area with 0000 steel wool. You’ll get the best possible finish by using a random orbit sander over top of a super-fine 3M rubbing pad. It gives a spectacular result.

A word of caution: When sanding between coats, or with the wet/dry paper after all coats are down, be careful around corners. It's very easy to sand right through the finish in these places, exposing bare wood.

Steve Maxwell, Canada's Handiest Man, has shared his DIY tips, how-to videos and product reviews since 1988. Visit him at www.SteveMaxwell.ca, Facebook or @Maxwells_Tips on Twitter.

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