Varnishing pine...

[Maz]

I bought a self-assembly shoe rack/cupboard which is unvarnished pine.
Should I assemble it first then varnish, or varnish then assemble? It's a toughy. Any ideas?

 

[mr Mag00]

varnish first as then nooks and crannies will be protected

 

[longers]

^ wot he said, and you're less likely to get drips as you try and reach the nooks and crannies.

 

[fenman]

assemble first then one coat sanding sealer rub down with very fine flour paper and apply bri-wax clear 1st class job ps. can always be polished again to freshen up

 

[Hilldodger]

By some shoe polish and apply with some fine wire wool and then buff with a cloth. Use tan polish if you want an antique look.

That's what I used to do when I was cabinet making

 

[rich p]

assemble first then one coat sanding sealer rub down with very fine flour paper and apply bri-wax clear 1st class job ps. can always be polished again to freshen up

+1 but don't worry too much about flour paper unless it's a fine antique! Briwax, antique brown is my favourite, to give an old feel. Don't use liquid varnish - it's cheap and nasty

 

[simoncc]

I bought a self-assembly shoe rack/cupboard which is unvarnished pine.
Should I assemble it first then varnish, or varnish then assemble? It's a toughy. Any ideas?

Yes. Do nothing.

You've made the mistake of buying a self-assembly shoerack/cupboard. Why compound the error by actually assembling it?

No, I'm not being cruel. One day you'll thank me for this advice.

 

[Crackle]

I bought a self-assembly shoe rack/cupboard which is unvarnished pine.
Should I assemble it first then varnish, or varnish then assemble? It's a toughy. Any ideas?

Varnish it first, you'll feel a heel if you don't do it properly. A proper varnish will give it some sole. Then again you could just boot the idea into touch and kick it together.

 

[sheddy]

Just put it together. If you are still using it next year then go ahead and decorate it

 

[Maz]

Varnish it first, you'll feel a heel if you don't do it properly. A proper varnish will give it some sole. Then again you could just boot the idea into touch and kick it together.

Cobblers to that lot!

 

[Noodley]

Whatever you do with pine, do not leave it alone as it will get lonesome:


View: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ikiny_d5FY

 

[Night Train]

If you varnish first make sure you don't get any varnish on the gluing surfaces or the glue won't stick
If you assemble first then make sure all the glue is wiped off around the joints with a damp cloth. Any glue left will prevent the varnish from sticking to the wood properly.

If it doesn't need gluing then varnish first as it is easier but whatever you do, do a dry assembly to make sure it all fits together first.

 

[Maz]

Thanks for the advice. I'm a bit unsure what sort of finish the bri-wax will give me (I'd never even heard of it until today). Is it a shiny/gloss finish?
I'm looking for something that will be wipeable if the kids make it dirty/decide to draw on it etc.