There are three basic ways to apply finish

 

Cloth (wiping)

Moderately fast, cheap, suitable for thinner products, little cleanup.  Good for oils, oil-varnish blends, thinned varnish, & stains.  Control amount by how aggressively you wipe, easy to remove excess material.

 

Brush

Slowest, most common, suitable for thicker, slower-drying finishes (like varnish), can be used with care for faster drying finishes (shellac, brushing lacquer, waterborne).  Can "manipulate" finishes during open time. Some brush prep & clean up required.  Suitable for special effects like glazing. 

 

Spray

Fastest to apply, needs special equipment (expensive) and area,  not suitable for slow drying finishes like varnish,  great for fast-drying finishes (shellac, brushing lacquer, waterborne), best for toners,  Gun cleanup when done.

 

Thanks! 

 

I wish I had a place to try spraying.

Here ya go @lew.

Small Spray booth

And for small jobs.

Edited April 25, 20188 yr by Gene Howe

Lew here is one I made. That can is an inline fan to vent the booth out the window.

@Gene Howe and @Gerald Thanks for the ideas!

Many people make spray "booths" out of a cardboard box (small or refrigerator sized) or sheets of foam insulation with a fan at the back end.

 

 

Edited April 25, 20188 yr by kmealy

Just make sure if spraying flammable materials that you change the motor to an explosion proof motor in the fan.