Elegant Entry Divider - Wood Tools

wrNDows & DooRs
I need to stain andfnish the wood on my ttell windows, u,indow
trim, and doors. Do you haue any good tipsfor applying stain and
fnish to vertical surfaces like thk to preuutt runs atrd drips and
ensure d consistent Iook?
Matt Stodddrd
Ankeny, IA l-
The first challenge when staining
windows (and sometimes doors)
is the giass. Glass can actually absorb
stain, so itt a good idea to apply strips of
painter's tape before you begin.And be sure
to remove the tape right after completing
the project to avoid disturbing the finish.
A1so, carefully remove, label, and store
locks, latches, and pulls to decrease the possibility
of leaving runs and drips.
Conditioner - Many woods absorb
stain unevenly, leaving blotches.To prevent
this, first sand and rerrove the dust, and
then apply a liberal coat of pre-stain wood
conditioner with a foam brush (Photo, aboue).
Gel Stain - Let the conditioner sit for
10 to 15 minutes, and then-before it
dries - apply a coat of stain. I recommend
a gel stain for windows. It's a thick, heavybodied
stain that is less likely to run or drip
than liquid stain.The use of pre-stain wood
conditioner will lighten the stain color, so
test the conditioner/stair-r combination or-r
a scrap piece to make sure itt what you
want before applying it to the windows.
Apply the gel stain with a foam brush,
working frorr the top down (Fig 1/. Let the
stain absorb for one to tcn nrinutes,
depending on the darkness you desire.Then
wipe the suface with a clean rag.
Fast-Drying Poly - The stain should
dry in eight hours, after which you can
apply finish. For protection, durabiliry and
easy application, I suggest fast-drying
polyurethane. Apply it in thin, even coats
with a natural-bristle brush, and shine a
worklight on the wood to detect runs before
they dry @ig. 2).Twenry minutes after each
coat, open and close the sasl-r to ensLtre the
finish doesn't bond the window shut.
SparVarnish - Tl.re windowsill takes a
lot of abr-rse from water and sunlight. For
that reason, use spar varnish to finish it.This
type of finish l.ras UV inhibitors to r.rrake it
nrore resistanto peeling and fading (Fig 3)
'When it dries, the varnish matches so well
that no one will realize you used two different
fir-rishes to pl'otect your windows.
Workbench ond Bruce Johnson,
Minwox finishing expert, ore
teoming up to onswer your questions
obout finishing.
Send your finishing quesiions frc:
Moil: Workbench Q&A
2200 Grond Avenue
Des Moines, lA 503 l2
Emqil: editor@workbenrhmoo.com
After putting on wood
conditioner to prevent
blotches, opply gel stoin
with o foom brush to minimize
runs ond drips.
20
Fostdrying polyurethone Finish the windowsill
is duroble ond brusheswith spor vornish to protect
smoothly on windows. it from sunlight ond moisture.
lt will motch the rest
Use o worklight to detect
runs or drios.
of the finish fine.
Winners
recerve
o FREE
Minwox *' l'. J
Finishing KitlV
a't
WORKBENCH ! FEtsIIUAnv 2OO5