Why is finishing important?

·         First thing someone else sees

·         Can make or break a project

·         Always in a rush

 

 

First thing someone else sees

Rarely will someone say,  "Wow, those are beautiful mortise and tenon joints,"  or "You did a really good job bending those chair arms."   But they are more likely to say, "What a lovely color," or "This table top is silky smooth."

 

Can make or break a project

Imaging spending a lot of time building a project, then having the stain splotch, the finish run, get bubble, or alternate shiny and dull spots.  Dag.

 

Always in a rush

Often we spend a lot of time constructing a project, then just want to get it done.   A friend who worked in a high end furniture factory once told me that they spend as much money and labor in the finishing as they do in the construction.   And most magazine articles will spend 8 pages and pictures on how to build all the parts and assemble them.  In the last paragraph, you'll read something like, "Apply the stain and finish of your choice..."   Lots of help there, huh?

 

 

You don't have to like finishing to be good at it, you just need to understand it.    And allow some time to get it done right.  It WILL make a difference.  And if you understand it, you may come to like it.

 

 

 

Agree (strongly) with all three points.

Thanks for another helpful lesson!