Quote:
Originally Posted by CCA-Dave
1) Assuming the coffee table is being used inside, I would stain it with a water-based stain. One, two or three coats depending on the look you want (practice on scrap bits to find your finish). Following that, I would use glossy or semi-gloss Varathane Polyurethane. 3-4 coats, depending on the finish I'm looking for.
2) I've always been told to only go to 120grit before staining. Depending on the wood, you might get some grain lift and need to sand with 120 between coats. Again, you have to practice on scrap that you've cut and worked in the same methods as your finished product to determine what your exact finishing technique will be. You only go to 120 because you need the wood to absorb the stain. On the stuff I've been doing I prefer not to sand after I stain for fear of changing the look, but up to 220. On the third coat of polyurethane the piece will start to look quite smooth, and it gets better from there.
3) Uh...you build them? That's sort of part of the fun, isn't it?
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I haven't had to build anything other than an entire fence in my parents yard from scratch using a table saw in their back yard and before that was in shop class in high school. I've been wanting to make some stuff lately, just not sure as to what.
Last I can remember I roughly did what you said, sand using around 220ish, but then wet sanded it with 1000 grit. Was a storage chest that was also used as a coffee table in their basement and it was beyond slick. Just like Ferras table the bottom of this one has the end piece on the floor just a hair shorter and was held together with super strong magnets. it was a false bottom with a storage thats about 6" high and long enough to keep a shotgun in it. Anyone recommend that or will wet sanding give you the same outcome as staining with regularly?
Similar to this chest but it was the side trim that popped off.
Is there a place you can build something if you don't have space? I've seen some condo buildings that have a workshop attached to them but I'm looking for a place where I'd have access to a table saw, band saw, lathe, planer etc