F-15 Finishes wood products

Overview

A cabinetmaker should know the basics of finishing: how finishing materials are applied and how they affect the final product. Task F-15 covers preparing the finishing materials, applying them by hand and spraying them on.

F-15.01 Prepares finishing materials

What you do

• Select finishing materials to suit the project specifications and applications.
• Measure, mix and filter finishing materials following the manufacturers' and project specifications.
• Test and adjust finishing materials for their qualities, following industry standards and client requirements.

What you need to know

• Finishing materials, their characteristics and applications, and their application methods.
• Additives and what they are used for.
• Safety requirements for preparing finishes, and the hazards finishing products can pose to the end user.
• Finishing material properties.
• The tools, equipment and procedures used to prepare finishing materials.

Range of variables

• Finishing materials (interior and exterior) include: lacquers, resins, varnishes, paints, stains, water-based, solvent-based, oils.
• Qualities include: colour, sheen, viscosity, performance.
• Application methods include: spraying, brushing, wiping, dipping, distressing.
• Additives include: solvents, dryers, slow-reducers, catalysts.
• Safety requirements include: WHMIS materials (labels, SDS), hazards, PPE, OH&S, jurisdictional standards.
• Finishing material properties include: drying time, appearance, durability.
• End user hazards include: flammability, off gassing, toxicity.
• Industry standards include: AWMAC, AWI, WI, CKCA, shop-specific standard.

F-15.02 Applies finishing material manually

What you do

• Choose and use hand-application tools and equipment to suit the desired finish.
• Test the application tools with the finishing material so tool, technique and material are compatible.
• Confirm the product is cleaned, sanded and ready for finishing.
• Choose PPE based on the SDS and safety procedures.
• Choose the application technique according to the manufacturers' specifications.
• Set up a clean, safe area for applying and drying, taking location and environment into account.

What you need to know

• Finishing materials, additives, finishing material properties and wood properties.
• Safety requirements for applying finishes, and end user hazards.
• Manual finishing techniques.
• Finishing problems and possible solutions.
• How to prepare the surface between coats.
• Procedures for applying finish by hand, repairing finish imperfections or damage, and conditioning.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: brushes, sponges, rags.
• PPE includes: masks, filters, gloves, respirators, goggles, aprons, protective coveralls.
• Manual finishing techniques include: brushing, wiping, rolling, dipping, pouring.
• Wood properties include: stability, absorption, moisture content.
• Finishing problems include: blush, pin-holes, fish eye, orange peel, bleeding, colour variance, drips and runs.
• Procedures to prepare surface (between coats) include: scuff sanding (manual and machine), removing contaminants (blowing off dust, tacking surface, vacuuming), filling imperfections, shading/toning.
• Conditioning includes: wash coat, pre-stain sealant, stain controller.
• Finishing materials, additives, safety requirements, finishing material properties and end user hazards: same lists as F-15.01.

F-15.03 Sprays on finishing material

What you do

• Choose and use spray equipment to suit the desired finished properties.
• Identify, test and adjust the spray equipment with the finishing material so compatibility, set-up and technique are right.
• Confirm the product is cleaned, sanded and ready for finishing.
• Choose the application technique according to the manufacturers' specifications and the desired finish.
• Choose PPE based on the SDS and safety procedures.
• Arrange a clean, safe area for applying and drying, taking location and environment into account.
• Check the product for finishing problems.

What you need to know

• Finishing materials, additives, finishing material properties, and how wood properties affect spraying.
• Safety requirements and end user hazards.
• Finishing problems and possible solutions.
• Spraying systems.
• How to prepare the surface between coats.
• Procedures for spraying, repairing finish imperfections or damage, and conditioning.

Range of variables

• Finished properties include: colour, sheen, build.
• PPE includes: masks, filters, gloves, respirators, goggles, aprons, protective coveralls.
• Finishing problems (spraying) include: pin-holes, fish eyes, orange peel, overspray, drips and runs, shading/toning, colour variation, poor surface quality.
• Spraying systems include: HVLP, air assist airless, automated spray systems, automated drying systems.
• Wood properties include: stability, absorption, moisture.
• Procedures to prepare surface and conditioning: same lists as F-15.02.

Finishing problems at a glance

Problem	Listed for manual (F-15.02)	Listed for spraying (F-15.03)
Blush	yes	–
Bleeding	yes	–
Pin-holes	yes	yes
Fish eye(s)	yes	yes
Orange peel	yes	yes
Drips and runs	yes	yes
Colour variance / variation	yes	yes
Overspray	–	yes
Shading/toning	–	yes
Poor surface quality	–	yes

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Source: Red Seal Occupational Standard – Cabinetmaker, Task F-15 (pp. 109–114).