Wood Finishing Class ~ The London School of Furniture Making

CORE SKILLS: Modern & Traditional Wood Finishes

£565

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Day: Monday to Friday

Time: 10.00 to 16.00

Wood Finishing Course – 5 days

The LSF wood finishing class teaches a range of techniques which you can use at home or in your own workshops.

The purpose of a finish is to protect the underlying surface while showing off the beauty of the grain. It starts with careful surface preparation, which is not difficult but takes time and needs to be done properly.

Most amateur woodworkers are familiar with oil finishes but steer clear of everything else because they appear to be difficult to use. With a solid understanding of the correct techniques, none of the wide range of hand-applied finishes available should intimidate you.

You will also be able to take advantage of this knowledge to choose finishes suitable for the task at hand, which means your work will look and feel better for longer.

We will cover the following:

Choosing the right finish
Surface preparation
French Polishing – shellac
Lacquer – pre-cat
Oil finishes – oil varnish blends vs oil
Waxes – beeswax, carnauba
Refinishing/restoration – stripping agents
Fix blemishes – bleach, stains and pigments

Bring along a smallish item such as a box, coffee table etc. to use as your course project. If you don’t have a project of your own, we have a few you can practice on.

Hard vs Soft Finishes Wood Finishes

Wood finishes can be divided into two camps: those that soak in and those which form a film and sit on the surface.

Oils and waxes

Finishes that soak in include oils, vegetable fats and waxes. These substances tend to stay soft, even when they are completely cured. They have the advantage of being easy to apply, and easy to repair when damaged. The finished article usually exhibits a subtle warm glow, a soft sheen which ages beautifully.

Varnish, shellac and lacquer

Film-forming finishes are harder, more durable giving more protection to the surface underneath. The application methods tend to be more demanding and require a good understanding of the techniques involved to achieve an acceptable result. Varnish, lacquer and shellac are hard finishes that can be brought to a gloss finish or dulled slightly to give a satin finish.