So as I've been building storage in the shop I have yet to put any kind of finish on well anything. I've built a few wall hung cabinets, a router table, a smaller drill cabinet, the outfeed table, a rolling cabinet that holds and stores the Kreg Foreman, the miter station, and rolling clamp cart. And then a few jogs like the crosscut sled and so on but haven't put nay finish on anything yet. Is this normal, personal choice, or otherwise not wise? I admit I'm not the best at putting a finish on anything that isn't for the formal part of the house but that's a two part thing. 1st I'm not all that thrilled about the finishing process and 2nd I'm not always sure it's really needed. On formal pieces I see the value in both finished look and protection plus it usually will bring out the characteristics of the wood itself such as grain and features. For the shop I'm not sure what I gain other than additional work. Can someone chime in on what is most appropriate? Am I just lazy or is it simply a personal choice? Are there real world advantages in putting finish on shop storage and jigs? As for the sliding jigs I do wax the runners and such as well as keep a good finish on my metal tables (table saw, band saw, jointer, planner, and so on)

I have painted my wall cabinets, router cabinet, router table cabinet and my outfeed table/assembly table/TS Storage cabinet

I'm too lazy or too much in a hurry to use the jig. 

no...

w/ over spray and splatter... it happens anyways,...

so there's no need..

I don't paint nothin'. Now, the wife's a different story.  She had some God awful orange paint left from a kitchen job...since redone...and she insisted one of my bench cabinets needed painting. So, I said have at it. So, she did. And, a wall cabinet, too. It's ugly as sin but, she satisfied her frugal nature. 

Gene my wife can do what she wants as long as she does it. I actually think that would be a great benefit in a wife, someone who will do the finishing side of things, as long as the finish is both our tastes. I'm not a finishing kind of guy. Build em and use em. Of course that's for the shop. If I had a good spray unit that might be a different story. The one regret and something I need to go back on is the trim on the miter station. I should have used a round over bit as I have very little collagen left in my arms so I both bruise and get skins teras easily. I'd be transporting a patient to the hospital and reach through a small doorway to the 02 tank and end up bleeding more than the patient. Most times I don't realize it till I either see the look on the patients face or feel it dripping. I've very careful around my sharp tools.........Of course by now I've had to give up on the rescue squad between both knees and the shoulder replacements. But I'm fun at the airport and court.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, at least I feel more regular....not that way, although that's not necessarily a bad thing at my age but you guys know what I mean......ya know

47 minutes ago, sreilly24590 said:

Gene my wife can do what she wants as long as she does it. I actually think that would be a great benefit in a wife, someone who will do the finishing side of things, as long as the finish is both our tastes. I'm not a finishing kind of guy. Build em and use em. Of course that's for the shop.

I don't finish my jigs, But the shop cabinets I will spray on shellac. For 2 reasons. One, they don't get finger prints on them,and are easy to wipe off. Two, it gives me experience in finishing and i feel more comfortable in finishing projects.

Herb

Herb that makes sense and I'm sure mine would (wood?) look better finished and I may well get there. The router table I'd like to at some time but likely just a spray on satin shellac as the top is phenolic and the fence is a Woodpeckers Super Fence so it would look more like a finished piece. I bought a gallon can of satin for the miter station but promptly loaded that up so I really should but then again if I do that then what about the others......one thing leads to another. I like the look just not the work,

34 minutes ago, sreilly24590 said:

Herb that makes sense and I'm sure mine would (wood?) look better finished and I may well get there. The router table I'd like to at some time but likely just a spray on satin shellac as the top is phenolic and the fence is a Woodpeckers Super Fence so it would look more like a finished piece. I bought a gallon can of satin for the miter station but promptly loaded that up so I really should but then again if I do that then what about the others......one thing leads to another. I like the look just not the work,

 

 

Eventually you will have to finish a project, like it or not, so it is good to get the most practice as you can on not so critical projects to feel more comfortable for when you have to. Eventually it will become 2nd nature.

I spraycan shellac on all my projects that I don,t stain to raise the grain . then hand sand w/220g. and give another coat, then hand sand w/350-400g. and put on a finish coat.

HErb

And there you had to say it....sanding, the part I probably dislike the mostess. Just seems tedious and then you just keep getting finer and finer and well you know. I guess I'll just need to accept it as part of the process but I don't have to take it sitting down. 

18 minutes ago, sreilly24590 said:

And there you had to say it....sanding, the part I probably dislike the mostess. Just seems tedious and then you just keep getting finer and finer and well you know. I guess I'll just need to accept it as part of the process but I don't have to take it sitting down. 

It only takes a minute to go over it with a (I use a cloth-backed sanding disc) ,or a folded up piece of sand paper, or a block with some foam padding and paper wrapped around it. The second time it is faster and the 3rd time is really fast,but gives the finish some thing to grip.

Try it you will see.

HErb

1 hour ago, Dadio said:

One, they don't get finger prints on them,and are easy to wipe off. Two, it gives me experience in finishing and i feel more comfortable in finishing projects.

 

I agree and do some sort of finish no matter what.  

 

 

35 minutes ago, Dadio said:

it is good to get the most practice as you can on not so critical projects to feel more comfortable for when you have to. Eventually it will become 2nd nature.

 

Another good point especially when first starting out.  Plus I try different methods and stains and finishes this way.  So what I screw up or it doesn't look like I wanted?

 

How many have thrown a jig into the fire and later realized hey where is that thing.  Possible reason?  Unfinished it looked like nothing.  No color to remind you what it was really for, maybe not even a note to say what and why.  

 

Lastly COLOR aids in memory retention.  None of us are getting younger!  It is the shop, multicolor or even different shades of stain, anything is okay.  Just something to jar the memory.  Add to this if you send someone you are working with to get a screwdriver.  Send them to the red box far side of the shop, 3rd drawer down, on the right screwdriver is green.  Granted most probably work alone but I recently have taken on a teenager and send him for stuff.  His knees and back are in great shape.  Makes is easier to get him in the right place.  And colors for him work well.  He counted 240 drawers recently in the entire shop.  Many are labeled with yellow or blue  tape and a marker because I am bad about squeezing space out of something and will reorganize if needed to do so.

 

2 hours ago, sreilly24590 said:

I should have used a round over bit

 

Started doing this when I came home from Iraq in 2010.  Lot less accidents and blood to deal with. 

 

@Woodbutcherbynight

Good points and another to add. You know those half can of paint,stain etc. that you eventually have to dispose of, or don't because it is too much trouble with the enviromental rules? well just use them up on the shop projects ,if nothing else to get rid of them and solve a headache at the same time. That half can of pink paint ,or avacago green that you despise makes a good undercaot to paint over with the favorite color sitting on the shelf.

Just saying,
herb

Yeah, I finish all my cabinets and jigs just to make them look good.  I use either paint or shellac. I used P&L 38 on my work bench.

44 minutes ago, Dadio said:

well just use them up on the shop projects ,if nothing else to get rid of them and solve a headache at the same time.

 

Good you bring this up.  I do this regularly.  Mostly I stick to common colors or stains I prefer so not a lot of extra.  But paint that is odd color I come across from someone, yes I use for primer or as a coating that will be out of site.  Below is a drawer for old door handles and locks.  Needed a odd color that stood out to me.  This purple was perfect for the job.  Since this is a bottom drawer I used Euro slides which allow me to grab the entire drawer and remove.  Handles on front and back make the task easier.  

 

I put a bench finish on my fixtures. It is mineral oil, beeswax and terpentine. It is to make that glue and stuff not want to stick to my fixtures.

 

I do not finish jigs but i do label them with how to or where I got the plan. Then when I pick it up and do not remember how to use it I can look it up

 

Hey WBBN I have my small drawers labeled and my rolling toolbox. I have not labeled my stack of drawers beside my lathe but may have to do that soon.

All good points and leads me to believe I've gotten lazier. Maybe if I get a better sander it won't hurt so bad. I guess I need to start thinking in a different direction. So any sanding on the plywood before stain/finish or just clean and apply? Sand in between coats I understand. 

I haven't finished all of my shop projects, but I have on some of them for the reasons Herb & WBBN mention.  It has given me practice on applying finish and to check for colors.  Another reason to finish plywood, for me anyhow, is to reduce splinters and slivers.  How much prep into plywood would depend upon whether you were staining it or painting.  Even with paint I would do some sanding to get a cleaner & smoother surface.

17 hours ago, sreilly24590 said:

I'm not all that thrilled about the finishing process

 

sub it out....

13 hours ago, Dadio said:

I don't finish my jigs, But the shop cabinets I will spray on shellac. For 2 reasons. One, they don't get finger prints on them,and are easy to wipe off. Two, it gives me experience in finishing and i feel more comfortable in finishing projects.

Herb

 

Ditto.

 

12 hours ago, sreilly24590 said:

And there you had to say it....sanding, the part I probably dislike the mostess. Just seems tedious and then you just keep getting finer and finer and well you know. I guess I'll just need to accept it as part of the process but I don't have to take it sitting down. 

 

...but it doesn't have to be tedious. When I use Shellac, which dries quickly, it is basically a quick once over to knock off the "nibs". You're not trying to sand everything level, smooth out the material, etc., that should have already been done. Basically, a "quick swipe" with the sandpaper, a quick tack wipe and your ready for the next coat.

 

If your real aversion is due to the mess from any sanding dust, try 3M non-woven pads. They are great for getting rid of the "nibs" with none of the sanding mess.

This may help...

 

COLOR CODES NON-WOVEN PADS.pdf

 

12 hours ago, Dadio said:

It only takes a minute to go over it with a (I use a cloth-backed sanding disc) ,or a folded up piece of sand paper, or a block with some foam padding and paper wrapped around it. The second time it is faster and the 3rd time is really fast,but gives the finish some thing to grip.

Try it you will see.

HErb

 

Totally agree...

 

12 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

How many have thrown a jig into the fire and later realized hey where is that thing.  Possible reason?  Unfinished it looked like nothing.  No color to remind you what it was really for, maybe not even a note to say what and why.  

 

Hmmm! Good point. Color coding jigs to specific tasks. Sort of like like how Festool uses green on anything that is made to be adjustable on the tool. Although, I don't keep many jigs around, they are usually made, used and repurposed, the ones that do remain sometimes  get "lost in the background" when hung on a wall of stuffed on a shelf. Color coding a certain jig as a visual cue, could guide you right to it.