My Finishing Process for Woodworking- Ask Matt #12

Surface prep is as important as applying a finish well. If there are any defects in your workpiece, they will become painfully obvious once a finish is applied. A good surface prep regimen is essential for a great finish. My go to finish is Arm-r-Seal from General Finishes. It is a wiping varnish that I apply with a rag. I'll typically apply 5 coats of finish. The first coat I apply heavily, allowing the finish to soak into the wood. I follow up each coat sanding with 600 grit sand paper.

This is the twelfth episode of my Ask Matt series where I answer broader topic questions. If you have an idea for a topic for a future episode, please let me know.

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[mikethelma]

Very professionally done. No dumb music or stupid clowning around. Just the facts and a clear explanation. Well done.

[CutterCo]

Wetting the surface with mineral spirits before finishing to spot the defects is absolutely the best advice I've heard in a long time! Thank you!

[egbluesuede]

Just about to apply Arm-R-Seal to a table and this was a really good explanation. Good tips and helps me understand the "why" not just the "how".

[diggler]

Watching this video again 4 1/2 years later, and I just picked up that applying the last coat super thin allows it to harden faster so particles have less time to land and stick in the finish. Thanks!

[abyshepherd]

Incredibly informative and humorous! 😂 I had to rewind several times to check on the beard shave!

I’m just starting out in wood working and I love that this video showed in (semi) real time the process that you go through. Thank you!

[polarbear]

My favourite cabinetmaker. Humble but a great artist.Nothing but nothing compares to wood . Look at that grain.

[timziolkowski]

First video I found that described the last step of waiting a couple weeks then using 1000 grit. THANKS!!

[briarfox]

I just built some cabinets from maple for my wifes laundry room and used the Arm R Seal. Love this stuff.

[ProspectorBill]

Thanks Matt. The heirloom pieces I make take as much time for the finishing as building the projects. When I can wipe on enough thing layers, even red oak feels like glass. Love the point about it being tactile.

[rogerdudra]

The clocks many use to order their day are unlike the clocks we use to make furniture correctly. I have found finishing a project in a shop with no LPHV equipment an assembly at a time to get a good finish on the whole in the end. All the corners come out clean for me.

[RecklessTheory]

this stuff is absolutely amazing! I have used quite a few different types of poly from water based to spar urethane of a several different brands but nothing comes close to being as easy to apply with wayyy better results than anything I have ever used. It really can't get any more fool proof than Arm-r-seal. No tacky drips or stroke marks as it self levels, most of the sanding areas that didn't absorb as well disappear with extra coats. First time I used this product too because of this video, Although I have used other general finish products this one is the most impressive I have tried probably because it's a wipe on oil based product with more clarity and durability than most brands.

[Dane-mzbv]

thank you Matt. This video is STILL helping folks in 2022 just in case you're wondering

[gregteagle]

Great look on door. Door finish and face finish sure made a difference in 24 hrs. Its great to watch how detailed you are on your work. Thanks for the information.

[briarfox]

I had never used arm r seal before I saw your video on it. I love the work you produce and its always professionally done so I decided to give it a go. Great finishing product. Very easy to apply and give a beautiful semi-gloss sheen that I usually knock down just a tad with a paste wax afterwards.

[keeganmyers]

After watching this video I purchased a quart of Arm-R-Seal and was pleasantly surprised with the results! My project's finish has turned out smooth as glass and was quite easy to install. Thanks for the tips and information!

[dkbuilds]

Thanks Matt, this video was super useful for me. I'll be buying some Arm-r-Seal ASAP!

[nathanroper]

This has always been a very poor part of my projects so thank you so much for explaining this in such a great way.

[matt]

Such an awesome video! Thanks for including all the little tips, you wouldn’t pick those up except from doing it, or hearing you say it

[Davesdiy]

I was impressed when Jay Bates swapped hats at the cuts, way to commit with the beard. That is one pretty piece of wood and thanks for the finishing tips.

[SpencleyDesignCo]

SUBSCRIBED! The level of detail you go in the video is amazing! WELL DONE!