Hey Micky, Why don't you talk to us on the handy show about this finishing work I am looking for a guest for Tuesday, if you want to do this send me your contact number, I'll call you this weekend and we can talk more about this. send contact info to my email address follows.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Talk later. Don ----- Original Message ----- From: Mickey Fixsen To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 12:40 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Applying finish to wood Bill, I haven't used the new wipe on polyurethane finishes yet. However, I have used many other finishes by applying them with my bare hand. I have used alkyd varnish, Tung oil, polyurethane varnish, latex paint, alkyd paint, polycrylic (water based) varnish and even lacquer. I get very good results with most of these products. I think the most difficult to use is the water based poly varnish. It dries too fast. I prefer using a bare hand rather than a rag, or other tool, because I can feel how much and where the finish is being applied. The oil based finishes work especially well. One thing to watch out for and be extra careful about is along edges and at corners. The material has a tendency to accumulate in these areas. They do the same with a brush and many sighted people end up with ridges along edges and puddles or drips in corners. It takes a bit of practice (like with anything), but it works very well for a blind guy. The technique is to just dip the pads of your fingers of one hand in the finish and then apply it to the part. You can use a circular motion to work the finish around and spread it out. I usually use a finish stroke in the direction of the grain before I move to another section. Don't put on too much and keep moving along. Several thin coats are better than one heavy one. Be careful not to drip any finish from your fingers onto an area that you have already finished. I would suggest starting with an oil based product to begin with. They dry much slower and you will find them very easy to use. For polyurethane varnish, I really like the fast drying Minwax oil based polyurethane. Some brands of polyurethane take forever to dry and I don't care for those. For stain, I have found that Minwax Wood Finish works very well. It needs to be stirred up real good before use. Then, I do use a clean piece of cloth to dip in the stain and apply it. You can put it on a bit heavy and then after a few minutes, go back over it with a clean dry cloth to even it out and mop up any excess. It is a thin penetrating stain that I get excellent results with. I don't think a blind guy can get very good results with any of the water based stains. Your hands can easily be cleaned. Use mineral spirits (paint thinner) for oil based finishes and warm soap and water for water based finishes. You might want to clean your hands along the way, if material seems to be drying on them as you are working. I have used the bare hand technique for about 40 years. I have done finish work on everything from boats to fine furniture, and everything in between. I am very particular about the quality of my finish and get rave comments. Whenever I am in furniture stores, or even houses, I am always feeling the quality of the finish work. I am usually very disappointed in what I find out there. I have to say that I do tons better finish work than most everything that I look at. Give your bare hand a try. I think you will like the results. Good Luck Mickey ----- Original Message ----- From: William Stephan To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 9:47 AM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Applying finish to wood Folks: I recently built a sort of table top out of 2 x 4s and 3/4 inch birch plywood that sits on top of a dog crate so as to provide flat work surface in an office. I don't think I want to paint the thing, but it probably needs to have some finish applied. I've heard that there's a product called "clearcoat" that can be applied using a cloth and which doesn't streak. Anybody used this, and can they talk about their technique? Thanks. Bill Stephan Kansas City, MO (816)803-2469 William Stephan ---------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.2/472 - Release Date: 10/11/2006 ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. 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