Finishing a Table Insides?

Otoe <[email protected]> wrote in news:3p67v39irkfud28dequsqhmfuddi0viems@
4ax.com:

> I'm almost done assembling a Huntboard Table; plans out of
> Popular Woodworking. As this will be an entry piece of furniture,
> I'm planning on shellacing the table. The question is about: does
> the inside surface of the table need to be finished as well. I know
> the top does to help minimize warping but seems to me the inside
> surfaces are not. I know the insides and sides of drawers are
> not finished either.
>
> Your comments welecomed,
>
> Otoe

Finish all sides. Bad things can happen to the unfinished side such as
staining or maybe mold growth. I've got a small table that was finished
only on the top side and it's got some staining on the bottom now, plus
it's warped a bit. I've got a couple coats of poly on the bottom sides
now and haven't seen any other bad signs.

Puckdropper
--
You can only do so much with caulk, cardboard, and duct tape.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

"Otoe" wrote:
> The question is about: does
> the inside surface of the table need to be finished as well.

SFWIW, recently finished a chest of drawers and coated ALL surfaces
with at least 2 coats of 1/2 lb shellac.

Took longer to cut the shellac from 3 lb to 1/2 lb than it did to
apply it.

Lew

"Otoe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm almost done assembling a Huntboard Table; plans out of
> Popular Woodworking. As this will be an entry piece of furniture,
> I'm planning on shellacing the table. The question is about: does
> the inside surface of the table need to be finished as well. I know
> the top does to help minimize warping but seems to me the inside
> surfaces are not. I know the insides and sides of drawers are
> not finished either.
>
> Your comments welecomed,
>
> Otoe

You apply a finish to the top to "protect" the finish. Applying a finish to
only one side/surface can increase the odds of the piece warping. When
applying a protective finish you want to apply the finish to all surfaces
exposed to air.

On Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:48:28 -0400, Otoe <[email protected]> wrote:

>I'm almost done assembling a Huntboard Table; plans out of
>Popular Woodworking. As this will be an entry piece of furniture,
>I'm planning on shellacing the table. The question is about: does
>the inside surface of the table need to be finished as well. I know
>the top does to help minimize warping but seems to me the inside
>surfaces are not. I know the insides and sides of drawers are
>not finished either.
>
>Your comments welecomed,
>
>Otoe


Apply the shellac to all surfaces. Don't forget the bottom of the
legs where there is end grain. You can dilute the shellac (with
alcohol) and apply this spit coat to all drawer surfaces. After a
month or two, wax and buff.