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How to use our Wood Finishing Packs

The Wood Finishing Packs have been developed especially for use in completing the miniature furniture kits which I sell as components in my stitching kits. For years, it has bothered me that people who make miniature furniture have to buy large tins/jars/bottles of varnishes, waxes, etc, when really they only need a tiny bit! So, I have put together these Wood Finishing Packs which contain everything you need to finish the doll’s house furniture kits, in tiny bottles and jars which are plenty for the job in hand, but which will save you having to buy large amounts that you simply will never use up.

There is one available for waxing the mahogany wood kits (for instance, the footstools and tea trays), and one for staining the whitewood kits (for instance, the dining chairs and rectangular stools).

Mahogany Wax Wood Finishing Pack:

Mahogany wax wood finishing kit

Contents of the pack:

The waxes, used as a mixture, will be enough to do two coats on an area the size of an A4 piece of paper.









You will also need:

Your furniture is ready for finishing once it has been assembled and the glue has dried. Use the wood glue as directed in the instructions for the particular furniture kit you are making. The photos below show the tea tray from the Tray Cloth kits being waxed.




Gently rub all the surfaces with the wire wool until the item feels smooth all over. Make sure there is no dust left on any surface.

 

For a darker mahogany finish, before waxing, apply boiled linseed oil as described in Step 1.
For a lighter mahogany finish, omit the linseed oil stage (Step 1) and start with Step 2.

Step1. Apply boiled linseed oil to all surfaces with a good quality small paint brush. Dry off with kitchen roll paper - don't use tissue as this will leave fluffy bits which are difficult to remove. Leave until completely dry - at least 24 hours, preferably a week. If you can leave it a week, the subsequent wax polishing will be easier. Use white spirit to clean the brush.




Step 2. Blend roughly equal parts of clear wax and mahogany wax in a suitable small lid (or similar), with a cocktail stick.









It is important to mix it until it has reached a uniform colour. You do not need to warm it in any way. Only mix the amount you expect to use in one day, as you will have to discard any left over. The clear wax is needed because it hardens, and the dark wax is needed for the colour.







Apply the wax mixture to all surfaces using wire wool. Leave to dry for at least 20 minutes, then polish off with a clean duster. Use a cocktail stick to remove any excess wax from the corners.









Further light coats of wax (you will need at least 2 coats altogether) should be applied with a cotton bud, left to dry, and polished off with the duster. You cannot polish wood too much.

Keep adding coats and polishing until you are happy with the look and feel of your item.

 

Oak Varnish Wood Finishing Pack:

Oak Varnish wood finishing kit

Contents :

The Oak varnish is enough to do two coats on four doll’s house dining chairs.


You will also need:

Your furniture is ready for finishing once it has been assembled and the glue has dried. Use the wood glue as directed in the intructions for the particular furniture kit you are making. This photo shows a RECTANGULAR STOOL being stained.

Gently rub all the surfaces with the fine sandpaper until the item feels smooth all over. Make sure there is no dust left on any surface.


To achieve an oak colour finish

Squeeze a small amount of oak varnish into a suitable small lid or saucer, so you can dip your brush in the varnish.

Apply evenly with a fine paintbrush along the grain, using two or more thin coats, as required. When using coloured varnish, the final colour will depend on the original colour of the wood and the number of coats applied. Sand down lightly between coats. Under normal conditions, it will be touch dry within 2 - 4 hours, and recoatable after 16 - 24 hours. A final coat of the clear varnish can be applied if desired. Clean brushes with white spirit and rinse thoroughly.

To achieve a 'natural' whitewood finish

Squeeze a small amount of clear varnish into a suitable small lid or saucer, so you can dip your brush in the varnish.

Apply two or more thin coats of the clear varnish, sanding lightly between coats. Under normal conditions, it will be touch dry within 2 - 4 hours, and recoatable after 16 - 24 hours. Clean brushes with white spirit and rinse thoroughly.

Go to the Online Shop now, to choose the relevant Wood Finishing Pack for the kit of your choice. The relevant Packs are listed alongside each type of kit that has wooden components.

Click to view dollshouse embroidery dining chair kits Click to view dollshouse embroidery rectangular stool kits Click to view dollshouse embroidery Tray cloth kits
"Dining Chairs" "Rectangular Stools" "Tray Cloths"
 
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