Finishing Small Objects Part 1

Handling a small, beautifully crafted wooden object can evoke a silent conversation between you and the maker. It can calm your busy mind, causing you to reflect on the process and material, and the inspiration for its creation. I’ve seen it many times; that emotional response to the handmade object fashioned out of wood.

What the wood is coated with, or not, is a big part of the story. Finishing small objects can be so much more complex than simply creating a smooth, shiny, coated surface. The finish can tell its own story. If you obscure the grain, it allows the form and texture to be dominant, however a clear finish allows you to look deep inside the material, bringing the grain and colour into the design as a feature.

Finishing begins well before anything is applied to the timber. Each object requires a decision based on timber species, form, usage and what the maker is trying to say by making the piece in the first place.

Do you sand through many sandpaper grades and make it silky smooth to the