rbbauer00 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I am building the four-drawer jewelry chest from last month's woodcraft magazine. It seems that a smooth finish would be easier to achieve if I applied it to each individual piece before the glue-up. I am using General Finishes Semigloss water based top coat for this project, but I would love info on this question as it applies to other finishes as well. Does the finish affect the joint strength-should I sand the finish from the joint, or even try to not get finish into the joint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Lots of people prefinish parts before assembly. The trick is to avoid getting finish on the areas to be joined. I use masking tape (usually use the green variety, but blue will work too) if I want to finish a piece before assembly. For example, if I want to prefinish an apron before assembling a table, I will mask off the tenon to avoid getting finish on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbbauer00 Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 These aren't traditional joints. The drawer runners are exposed and are just squared stock set into a v-groove on the inside of the legs. There is no practical way to distinguish which part of the surface on the runner will mate with the v-groove on the leg. I could easily finish the top separate from the sides, but is there a good way to pre-finish the runners? Here's a pic: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Are the runners being glued into the v-groove? If so, you could dry assemble the unit, mark the areas that will be glued with a pencil (lightly), disassmeble and then mask them off. Apply finish. Then remove the tape and do your glue up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatworks Today Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Brad, very cool.. Looks like a small piece; I think I would probably assemble everything then finish. All the 'drawers' are removeable and the body itself looks small enough to flip upsidedown and spray.. I guess might be a little different if you're brushing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbbauer00 Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I don't have a spray setup so I'll be brushing or using a rag. The Photo doesn't show it well, but the depth of the v-groove is half the (diagonal) width of the runner, so there really is not an acute angle between the runner and the leg. I suppose without the top on, the inside of the runners would be reasonably easy to reach for sanding between coats. I just don't want to get buildup in any inside corners. I may try to mark of the area like Franklin suggested. The plans include some glue-up jigs that woud make it easier to precisely mark the mating surfaces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatworks Today Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Agreed.. For brushing that may work better.. Have to say though, really like the design.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 looks like a nice piece thinking it would be a pain to build it though. maybe ill go out and pick up the plan and try it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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