Wood

Trim, Doors/Bare Wood/To Be Stained and-or Clear Coated

a. Surface Preparation:

• treat any mildew with a 3:1 water:household bleach mixture, leaving it on for 20 minutes and adding more as it dries; wear eye and skin protection; rinse thoroughly
• dull any glossy areas of wood ("mill glaze") by sanding with medium (#120) grit garnet paper; wear eye protection, dust mask, work gloves
• fill any gouges or splits with wood filler; let dry and sand flush
• fill gaps with quality acrylic or siliconized acrylic caulk, and immediately smooth it flush; allow to dry over night and make a second application if needed; do not sand a caulk
• remove any dirt by scrubbing with detergent and water; rinse thoroughly; let dry out
• lightly sand the entire area to be painted with fine (#220) grit garnet paper, then dust off with clean rags
• for maximum smoothness, dampen the wood and let dry 30 minutes prior to the final sanding step

b. Priming:

• priming is not done if applying a stain or clear coating

c. Staining and-or Clear Coating:

• if staining, apply an oil-based wiping stain (conventional or gel type) following manufacturer's directions; then (after an over night dry) a clear coating is normally applied
• apply clear coating to bare wood, or to stain after over night dry; use one of these:
  • oil-type finish: apply with brush, rag or roller, then immediately wipe off excess with clean rags; apply additional coats if needed
  • polyurethane solvent based finish in satin, semigloss or gloss finish; apply with brush, foam brush, roller or spray; apply second coat according to manufacturer's recommendation
  • shellac: apply with brush or roller
  • acrylic latex varnish
  • water based polyurethane varnish

* IMPORTANT: immediately dispose of rags and paper soaked with oil-based material (stain, primer, paint, clear coating, etc.) by either spreading them open in a safe place to dry, or by putting into in a fireproof container with lid; otherwise they can catch fire by themselves if left wadded up