Choosing the Finish:
1. Choose a finish that will meet your expectations for the product you are
finishing. Are you matching existing furniture or do you want a "natural"
finish? Is the piece to be functional, decorative or both? The answers to these
questions may affect the type of finish you choose.
2. Use products of the same brand to ensure compatibility of products.
3. ALWAYS follow the stain manufacturer's instructions. Alder is a porous
hardwood and often looks best when following the finishing directions for
softwoods.
4. We recommend using a wood conditioner under oil base stains.
5. Work in a well ventilated and well lit area.
Getting Started:
1. Assembly Instructions may contain special finishing information for
that item. Read both the Assembly Instructions and these Finishing Hints
completely before beginning.
2. Sand the entire piece, using #220 grit sandpaper. Sand with the grain of the
wood on flat surfaces and opposite the grain on turnings. Some parts are
plywood. Be careful not to sand through the veneer. End gra in (table to p ends,
seat edges, grooves on turnings, etc.) accepts more stain. Extra sanding in
these areas with a #320 grit sandpaper will reduce stain absorption, creating
a more evenly stained piece.
3. When sanding is completed, wipe the surface of your furniture with a cloth or tack rag. Make sure the
item is free of dust before proceeding.
4. For most products, we recommend preparing and staining the wood prior to assembly. Due to the
assembly procedures for chairs, rockers and stools, we recommend assembling these items prior to
finishing.
5. If you do choose to finish chairs, rockers or stools prior to assembly, it is imperative that you protect
the ends of dowels and spindles, and the mortise holes where the wood is joined, from finishing prod-
ucts. Use masking tape around the ends, being careful to cover only the section that will be inserted
(remove the tape after the finish has dried and before the furniture is assembled). Wood glue will not
bond if finishing products are present. If you do get finishing product in these areas, it must be removed
to ensure proper bonding.
6. If glue is used in assembly of your furniture, remove any excess glue spots or drips before finishing.
Wood surfaces with glue WILL NOT accept stains, and will leave a light spot. To remove glue, wipe
off as much as possible while wet, then lightly sand the surface until the remaining glue is removed.
These are general hints. Refer to the instruction sheet for detailed
information on gluing your specific product. Your unit may not need glue.
1. We strongly recommend that you first lay out all the parts and familiarize yourself with how they fit
together before assembling with glue. Glue will set up quickly and can cause damage to the parts if
you try to reposition any that have been assembled incorrectly.
2. Glue usually takes several hours to cure (or harden) but it will sometimes set up, or grab, in several
seconds. Therefore, once you begin final assembly, be sure to proceed quickly and diligently.
Finishing Hints
Gluing Hints:
Basic
Equipment:
Rubber gloves
Rags
Paper towels
Q-tips
Tack cloth
Drop cloth
Paint brushes
(bristle and foam)
#220 & #320
sandpaper
Mineral spirits
Masking Tape