How to Finish Wooden Furniture

Sand all surfaces of the furniture. Use folded sandpaper or a foam sanding block to reach into grooves and curved areas. Begin with medium- or fine-grit sandpaper, and change to finer grits until the wood grain is completely smooth.

Wipe over the entire piece of furniture, using a tackcloth. A tackcloth removes the tiny particles of wood, dust and lint that can ruin the finish. A vacuum cleaner or dry, clean brush will also remove these particles.

Apply stain lightly with a brush or applicator, brushing in the direction of the wood grain and moving across the entire length of each section to avoid smears and blotches. Overlap the edges of your strokes slightly so all areas are covered. Wipe off excess stain before it dries. The stain will blend smoothly as it is absorbed into the wood. Allow to dry.

Apply the oil finish product, using a cloth applicator or folded clean cloth. Soak a section of the applicator and rub the finish onto the wood surface. Finish one area at a time before the product begins to dry. Allow to dry completely, usually overnight, before applying a second coat.