Staining setup

[Shawn]

Hi All

I am in the middle of finishing up a entertainment unit for the house and have one quick question. How is everyone staining once the project is built. The main unit is easy just sits on its feet and i can do the whole thing but the removable shelves present a problem. How do i stain and clear coat them all sides at once. Can this be done? I imagine if I do one side at a time let dry and do the other side you will see transition lines in the stain. What setup do you use for staining or painting all in one go?

Thanks

[Jens Jensen]

Why buy all these fancy setup tools. My gosh you must have 4 blocks of wood (1x4 or 1x2)  in house or shop.Just take some finish nails an pound the all way through the wood in corners turn upside and there is your system. $.25 vs.$10.00 or more .Thats all  I have to offer.

James set up is fine if you have space to store the board which I do have the room but with 1x4 I have 12 of them in a cabinet and takes up no room at all

[Bob Farmer]

I prefer James' solution with the painters pyramids. The plastic is less likely to mar your workpiece... and really, it's only $10. Your nails may be at different heights, etc... I don't know, I just prefer the accuracy of the pyramids. Either way will work. Kreg's bench dogs also have a 'painters point' on them:  http://www.kregtool.com/Bench-Dogs-Prodview.html

[Jens Jensen]

Now that just  dont make since at  all different heights.If you set the nail all way through board and then turn over

how can they be different heights.As far as marring these nails have a lot less space then your so called plastic. But each to there own I prefer to be conservative when settling for this type of tool.

[Shawn]

Thanks for all of the great ideas guys. I have actualy made painters pyramids from 1/8 baltic birch cut out on the scroll saw so maybe I will just whip up a few more and see how that goes.

Thanks again.

[Jens Jensen]

Good for you as far as making your own

[ray vile]

I have 2 sets of painter pyramids but I often find out that that is way less than I need, sometimes you need more then 8 supports. I take 1/4'' plywood scraps cut in aprox. 2'' squares and run a screw 3/4'' long through the center from the under sides.

you can make a whole lot of these fo the price of the pyramids but the pyramids take up alot less space when being stored

 

[Tsu Dho Nimh]

How do i stain and clear coat them all sides at once. ... I imagine if I do one side at a time let dry and do the other side you will see transition lines in the stain.

No, you won't see transition lines. it's easy to stain just the top and the sides, let it dry, then flip it and stain the remaining side.

If you doubt your dexterity, try this:

1. Mask the edges of one side with painter's tape.
2. Prop them up on something - those pyramids, the nails or whatever works so that you can reach all the edges.
3. Stain the top and the 2 edges that will be visible (assuming sides will always be hidden). Be careful to not swab the underside carelessly and go past the tape.
4. Remove tape and let it dry.
5. Mask the visible edges
6. Flip the shelf over and stain the remaining side. remove tape and let it dry
7. Do one side and all edges with the clear coat, let dry and then do the other.