Open this task in the study app

F-14 Prepares surface for finishing

Major work activity F – Performs finishing · Weight: 51% · 7 of the 120 exam questions

Surfaces must be prepared so the product is ready to accept its final finish.

Sub-tasks

Preparing surfaces for finishing

Getting a product ready for its final finish: repairing imperfections, preparing parts (removing hardware, masking, hanging) and final sanding.

Key points

Overview

Surface preparation makes sure a product is ready to take its final finish. Task F-14 covers three steps: repairing imperfections, preparing parts (hardware, masking, hanging) and the final sanding of surfaces.

F-14.01 Repairs imperfections

What you do

  • Check the material for imperfections against industry standards.
  • Choose and use tools and equipment that suit the application.
  • Sand and scrape off excess glue and blemishes until the defect can no longer be seen.
  • Fill nail holes, tear-outs and depressions with auto body filler, wood filler or wax (lacquer) sticks.
  • Steam the wood to remove depressions until the defect is no longer visible.

What you need to know

  • The material to be finished, and its properties, characteristics and applications.
  • Tools and equipment used to repair imperfections, and how to use them.
  • Repair procedures, plus how to prevent and remove contaminants.
  • Scraping and sanding procedures for removing glue or machine marks.

Range of variables

  • Imperfections include: excess adhesive, contaminants, blemishes, water spots, scratches, dents, machine marks.
  • Material properties include: species of wood, cuts of wood, grade of wood, grain, moisture content, veneer thickness.
  • Tools and equipment include: scrapers, pneumatic sanders, putty knives, irons, sandpaper, rags.
  • Contaminants include: silicone, solvents, excess glue, water, stains, pitch pockets, resin.
  • Industry standards include: AWMAC, AWI, WI, CKCA, shop-specific standard.

F-14.02 Prepares parts for finishing

What you do

  • Remove hardware so the finishing product can't contaminate it.
  • Mask surfaces so adjacent areas and hardware are protected from finishing products.
  • Install eye hooks and hanging bars/brackets in non-visible locations so parts can be hung for spraying, following shop-specific standards.

What you need to know

  • Masking requirements, and masking materials with their characteristics and applications.
  • The order of operations for finishing materials.
  • The least visible locations for eye hooks and hanging bars.

Range of variables

  • Masking requirements include: protection of hardware and other products, protection of adjacent colours or finishes.
  • Masking materials include: masking tape, paper, painter's tape, peel coat.

F-14.03 Performs final sanding of surfaces

What you do

  • Remove cross-grain marks by sanding with the grain.
  • Choose and use tools and equipment that suit the application.
  • Remove sharp edges by sanding, following industry standards.
  • Pick the sandpaper grit to suit the finish and industry standards.
  • Remove excess dust with vacuums and compressed air, following jurisdictional safety regulations.

What you need to know

  • Material properties; abrasive supplies; types of sandpaper; the abrasive grits used for final sanding.
  • Sanding procedures and the sequence for sanding parts.
  • How to prevent and remove contaminants.
  • Final-sanding tools and procedures, including scraping to remove glue or machine marks.
  • How to do a final inspection of the surface after final sanding and before finishing.

Range of variables

ListIncludes
Abrasive suppliessandpaper, scrapers, steel wool, sanding sponges
Types of sandpaperaluminium oxide, garnet, silicon carbide (printed "silicone carbide" in the RSOS), ceramic
Abrasive grits for final sanding100, 120, 150, 180, 220
Tools and equipmentscrapers, sanding blocks, orbital sanders, belt sanders, palm sanders, wide-belt sanders
Contaminantssilicone, solvents, excess glue, oil, water, excess filler
Procedures for final inspectionvisual inspection, shining various light sources, applying specialty solvents, inspection by touch
Jurisdictional safety regulationsOH&S, WHMIS, workers' compensation boards, manufacturers' health and safety
Material propertiesspecies of wood, cuts of wood, grade of wood, grain, moisture content, veneer thickness
Industry standardsAWMAC, AWI, WI, CKCA, shop-specific standard

Source: Red Seal Occupational Standard – Cabinetmaker, Task F-14 (pp. 105–108). Abrasive name "silicon carbide": Ontario Cabinet Maker curriculum 438A, S1464.5, 5.2 (p. 32); NL Cabinetmaker Plan of Training, AK1252, objective 1 (p. 29).

In the study app

18 flashcards and 21 practice questions cover this task in the interactive app. Open this task in the study app

Glossary terms for this task

Reference articles for this task

Sources cited on this page

Open this task in the study app