Hello All-
My wife is due in 10 weeks, and I’m in a major hurry to create some storage space in my house. The solution is going to be about 10 linear feet of bookshelves in the second floor spare bedroom.
at this point appearances are a very distant second to getting the job finished. i’ll use a very simple design, and i know i can knock together the actual cases pretty quickly. the time consuming part will be finishing the wood. so… what are everyone’s recommendations for the quickest, simplest finishing method? in particular, what is the best way to streamline the sanding process, as i typically find that to be the most time consuming step (even with an orbital sander)?
thanks!
Replies
Fisher ,
Use the prefinished plywood or a product that will need no finish like a Melamine or whatever .
dusty
Oldusty-
i like that idea a lot... a couple of questions though:
1. any recommendations on suppliers? i'm in ohio - i'll be looking for someone who distributes to this part of teh country. so far, norboard is teh only one i find.
2. how do you recommend hanlding finishing the exposed edge of teh plywood? i can cover the sides with a face frame, but the shelves are a different matter...
thanks so much for your reponse!
The white wire racks are nice to look at, easy to put up and able to be changed when she changes her mind.
And she can see what's on the shelves over her head.
Edited 12/28/2007 9:26 am ET by peteshlagor
I use the iron on edge band stuff. Put it on before the finish, and finish everything the same.Shellac is a good choice. Another is wipe on poly. Fast drying time is a big advantage to these things.If you can find any of the pre-finished plywoods (like cabinet makers use) I imagine the supplier has matching edge banding. I'm in central Ohio and I haven't been able to locate any of the pre-finished plywood yet.
Home Depot and Lowes both sell shelves, finished on all four edges. White and "wood" colored.
tung oil. wipe on. wipe off.
always sand with the grain.
I like Tung or Watco for things like this, but a PG woman might be intolerant of the odor, so a water based poly or a shellac might be better.
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Piffin,
The reason I love shellac is a painting dunce like myself can do it quickly and nicely.. The fact that it's safe, durable, and beautiful is strickly a bonus..
Hey, I beat Frenchy. Shellac. Cut your boards, ROS, shellac. Just pick up a can and follow the directions. Get denatured alcohol while at Lowes and rub on with a cloth or brush on. Faint pleasant odor that dissipates promptly and dries quick enough to allow three coats in one afternoon.
Make sure you buy wood that has a finished look to it already. HD sells a select pine that needs very little sanding when done.
I second or third the shellac recommendation. Quick to apply, looks good and the smell is gone in a day or less.
Fish
Sand everything as you assemble it. Makes it easier to finish if you don't have to try to sand into corners after the assembly. Usually only a little touch up sanding required before applying the finish.
I'd do the shellac method as well, quick, easy and durable. Maybe shellac before assembly, that way any glue ooze-out will wipe up easily.
You can buy iron on edge tape at the big box stores but if you don't like that idea then cut yourself some 1/16"-1/8" strips and glue them on, use masking tape as your clams.
You should be done in time to watch a bowl game.
Congratulations on the new arrival.
Doug