About

This class has a prerequisite. Please see below.

Did you ever wonder how to get a really professional-looking finish on your woodworking project? In this hands-on class, you will learn about different types of wood stains and clear finishes.

You will be able to experiment with numerous products on a sample board to take home and use for future reference. The class is four sessions to allow drying time as you go through all of the steps, from preparing the surface to applying stain and finish, to rubbing out the finish. You will learn how to prepare the surface to help ensure an excellent finish, which stains and finishes work best on different types of solid wood and plywood, and which tools and techniques to use when applying stains and finishes by hand (ie, without spraying). You will also learn which products are compatible with one another — and which ones aren't.

If you have a project that needs finishing, you are welcome to bring it or to share a picture of it during the class and to consult with the instructor on the best approach. (A later class will focus on refinishing — it is not the topic of this class.)

Details:

• Ages 14+ are welcome.
• This class is open to students who have taken Orientation to the Woodshop. Multiple sessions are listed on the Woodworking Calendar. 

• Please click here for BARN's current COVID-19 health & safety protocols. 

• You must wear safety glasses and closed-toe shoes. We recommend bringing your own safety glasses.

• BARN is committed to accessibility. Tuition Assistance is available - click here to fill out the simple application before registering for a class. For those who might need physical assistance, please learn about BARN's Companion Program here.

Instructor:Carol Fiedler Kawaguchi is a professional woodworker who specializes in restoration of antique furniture through her business, C-Saw, on Bainbridge Island. She also makes custom furniture, including the slab coffee table in the Commons at BARN.

Feedback from an earlier class:

"With her professional background, Carol provides you with information that takes you beyond the easy way out of Minwax products at the big box store to the world of waterborne finishes vs alcohol-based or petroleum-based products. You get to see and work with a variety of wood species and grain patterns using penetrating and topical finish products and — what was most exciting — dyes. Most importantly you get the instructions in what not to do as well as what works for you. This is a level of information and hands-on trial that every serious woodwork needs to experience."

— Jeff Williams, former BARN woodshop lead