Need help with finishing...

I finished building my 1st project...yay!  I've look at the some of the finishing threads but I feel like a lot of this talk about distressing is beyond me, at this time(I hope to get there someday).  I'm more at the point of realizing there are different kinds of sand paper.  Which brings me to my 1st question:  How much should I sand the wood?  I plan to paint this first project and I will say there are several gaps, popped nails/screws ect...Embarassed So questions #2, #3 #4:  I saw at orange wood putty, wood filler, and plastic wood.   Do these products do different things?  Are some better with different wood types (soft vs hard)?Does it matter what color I use if I'm painting? 

 

Thank you for any ideas.   I had a great time building, now I just don't want to ruin it!  Smile

carolinern

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 17:22

Hi there,

I am also building my first project - a twin farmhouse bed , and it is looking really good, so I will tell you what I have done. I also don't know much about finishing, but here is what I did. I went to home depot and asked the guy for advice on what to use to fill the gaps in the wood and he told me to get the patch n paint lightweight spackling. It works great. I filled in all the holes and it dries really fast, within 15 min, then I sanded lightly with sandpaper number 120. Then, if the hole was really deep, it required 2-3 "coats" of this lightweight spackling. Then, I sanded all the wood with 120 grit sandpaper. Then I primed it. I first used the kilz spray on primer, which I love and it is totally worth the $5/can. Although, 1 can does not cover very much. I think just for the footboard of a twin bed I used 3 cans to prime. The spray primer dries really fast, which is awesome. Now, in an attempt to save move on the side rails and part of the headboard, we purchased paint on primer, which is alot more work and required 2 coats of the prime to cover the wood well. From now on, I will only use spray on primer. Anyways, then after the primer dried, I sanded it with 220 grit sandpaper, which made it really fine and smooth. Then I applied 2 coats of paint and I sanded between each coat with 220 grit sandpaper. Now I am in the process of getting the edges "distressed" and staining the edges. I don't know if there is an easier way to finish it, like I said this is my first project as well, but I am very pleased with the results so far... Will post pictures once it is done!

louiesrunningbuddy

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:46

Thanks Caroline!   I would love to see pictures.  I think a lot is just trying things and getting a "feel" for it. Laugh

brooklyns_mama

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 19:47

 I use Elmer's Wood Filler. It comes in a tub, and only in one color. 

I sand everything with fine sandpaper, on an orbital sander, or with a sanding block for the tricky spots. 

I sand till everything is smooth. As in, my daughter isn't going to ever get a splinter smooth. 

Sometimes its five minutes, sometimes its an hour. Just depends. I need to trust I can rub my face on it. 

Nothing takes stain very well, even the stain-able stuff, so slop it on for paint, and for stain, be careful. 

louiesrunningbuddy

Sat, 01/15/2011 - 04:09

Brooklyns_Mama said:

 I need to trust I can rub my face on it.
 


This is standard I'll live by! Haha Thank you!