Milford chronicle., 1926-12-17
RULES FOR FINISHING
INTERIOR WOODWORK

In undertaking job of interior
wood finishing there are several fac
tors which must be considered. The
kind of wood to be finished comes
first and largely determines the
character of the finish to be employ
ed. Among the woods which may be
finished with stain are mahogany,
American walnut, chestnut, oak, ash,
cherry, selected birch and redwood.
Among the woods which may be CIV
en- a natural finish are gumwood, red
wood, mahogany, American and Cir
cassian walnut, white and red oak,
cherry and chestnut. Among the
woods which may be given a paint
or enamel finish are white and yell
low pine, fir, bass, cottonwood, gum
wood, birch and redwood.
The grain of the wood has much to
do with the selection of the finish.
The cheaper grades, and even the
better grades which have not been
selected for grain, figure and color
often leave one with no choice of
finish except as between paint and
enamel. Trim lumber is apt to show
great differences in color, contrast
and size of grain and figure.
Another factor to be considered is
the color scheme of the room. Wood
trim ought never to be finished with
color or grain figure so strong as to
call attention to itself. Beauty of
natural grain and color of wood
should not be obscured by an opaque
finish.
Wood trim which is never touched
or subjected to hard wear may be
given a less durable finish than wood
trim surfaces such as floors, where
nothing short of stain, filler and
three coats of varnish, or three coats
of good floor paint, will do. The fin
Cish must include not only the preser-
ation of color but also the preserVa-
On of the wood from damage by
oisture and wear.
1t oftens happens that color
lheme needs some relief; again, it
ly be wished to introduce some
Thing distinctive into the home; or
perhaps the finish of woodwork has
become tiresome-in any of the
above situations relief may be found
by using a special treatment on
woodwork.
A very rich ebony effect may be
secured by first coating the wood
with Vermillion fiat paint, over
which two coats of black paint
slightly tinted with Chinese blue are
applied. The finish coats are Of rub
bing varnish.
If you are lucky enough to have
hardwood trim, an unusually attrac-
tive Weathered or silvered finish may
be obtained by coating the wood with
a light brown stain that has been
grayed slightly by the addition of a
black stain. This dries very quickly
and is treated to a coat of paste fill
Yer which has had either white or
aluminium paint added to it in gem
srous quantity. After this has set for
thirty minutes, the wood is wiped
across the grain. After twelve hours
the surface may be varnished or
Waxed and rubbed.
Several artistic effects are obtain
Ad on hardwoods such as oak by the
8se of a stain and contrasting colors
the filler. Good combinations are
dark mission oak stain with filler
Ynted with venetian red; russet
ktain with white filler, golden oak
liz with very dark blue filler, and
green stain with neutral gray
4 These finishes are excellent in
- rooms. Because the grain OF
bod is not equally receptive to
lored filler in all parts certain
IS retain more of it than
it is in this way that the
ng effects are secured.
onre and rich are the color
finishes for living room
e5dwork. After the work has been
ought up to a smooth surface Of
gsired ground color lin case Of new
ood at least three coats are requir-
ID then thin glaze coat Of con-