Interior wood finishing

Step Wood Preparation:
First thing to do is to survey of all the surfaces. After doing this, you will be able to determine what you will need.
Surface marks
All the marks will have to be sanded off. Use 80 grit sandpaper. You will need to feather your sanding around the mark somewhat because if you sand in one spot, there will be a lighter difference on that spot Use 100 - 120 grit sandpaper.
Rough Areas
To describe rough, I refer to where a router or saw have not completely removed the wood it was suppose to remove. Also where the pieces meet or connect together such as corners and other joints.

Step Staining:
There are several methods to applying stain. I usually just brush stain. I am not saying that it is the best way to do it, but that is the way I do it. I prefer to stain before the wood is installed. This makes the process of staining much faster. To do this type of application, layout the wood across two saw horses with a drop sheet below to keep the mess to a minimum. Next mix the stain thoroughly from bottom to top. Proceed by dipping the brush into the stain about one inch up the bristols. Wipe the brush off as you pull the can out of the stain. This should leave enough stain in the brush to start. Place the brush about five inches away from the end of the piece of wood and drag it toward the opposite end. When the brush begins to show signs of being almost empty stop and drag the brush back past where you started at. Right past the end. Again reload the brush and start about five inches from where you had to turn back the previous stroke. Repeat until the piece is completed. Once the piece is completed, run the brush one end to the other without stopping. Complete the rest of the wood following these steps. Read the label. Be sure to always clean your brush after each step of use.

Step Sealing:
Wait for about eight hours after staining the wood. The wood is dry to touch in order to handle it. Follow the same pattern of applying the stain when you apply the sealer but remember to ensure that the cover is even. This is accomplished by repeated hand motion back and forth. Just like staining, once the piece is completed, run the brush one end to the other without stopping. Complete the rest of the wood following these steps. Well, you have to wait two – four hours to make sure the sealer is dry. Sand all the wood. Use 120 grit or finer. Read the label. Be sure to always clean your brush after each step of use. Install Wood with one coat of stain and one coat of sealer if possible.

Step Wood Preparation:
First thing you can do after the wood has been installed is be sure to inset all the nails with a nail punch. The nails should be inset by about 1/16 – 1/8 of an inch. Start to fill the nail holes with color matched putty. The putty can also be used to fill small joints that are not more the 1/16 of an inch in width. Joints that are larger will need to be prefilled with wood cement or wood filler. Sand all the wood. Use 120 grit or finer. After all this has been completed, you can wipe each piece to remove any excess putty and dust with varsol or mineral spirits.

Step First Finish Coat:
Apply the coat of your choice of finish whether it is latex / varethane / urethane. Be sure to spread the finish out as much as you can by striking back and forth. After three or four feet, drag your brush back over quickly where you had just finished to have a continuous follow through stroke. Nothing looks worse then a lot of brush marks. Let dry. Different products take shorter or longer periods of time to dry. Read the label. Be sure to always clean your brush after each step of use.

Step Wood Preparation:
Now just a light sanding with 120 grit or finer. You just want to take off any roughness of the finish. You do not want to remove the finish! Wipe clean varsol or mineral spirits to remove the dust.

Step Second Finish Coat:
Apply the second coat the same as the first coat. And you are finished. Be sure to always clean your brush after each step of use.