Has anyone out there contracted with someone else to put the finish on
one of their projects?

I'm almost done with a project I've been working on for 3 years (off
and on, between home improvements and other stuff) that I'd like to
wrap up. Finishing my projects is not a strong point for me just yet,
and I'd like for this to really be done well, so I was thinking about
finding a cabinet shop or something and paying them to use some of the
more industrial strength spray-on finishes I've read about here on the
wreck.

Is this something a cabinet shop would even consider seriously, or
should I just stick to poly and hope no one notices the runny
finish? :-)

-Nathan

N Hurst wrote:
Has anyone out there contracted with someone else to put the finish on
one of their projects?

I'm almost done with a project I've been working on for 3 years (off
and on, between home improvements and other stuff) that I'd like to
wrap up. Finishing my projects is not a strong point for me just yet,
and I'd like for this to really be done well, so I was thinking about
finding a cabinet shop or something and paying them to use some of the
more industrial strength spray-on finishes I've read about here on the
wreck.

Is this something a cabinet shop would even consider seriously, or
should I just stick to poly and hope no one notices the runny
finish? :-)

-Nathan

Look for an Antique Restoration shop. You do not need to get into the really expensive spots that deal only in true antiques. Almost any refinisher will gladly accomodate you for a fee.

Ask your neighbours who they use.

HTH

P D Q

Shoot a note to "Swingman" on this subject. I believe he
outsources all his kitchen cabinet projects.

Given today's business prospects, I bet cabinet companies
are looking at whatever revenue that can get. It sure will
not hurt to call a few.

N Hurst wrote:
Has anyone out there contracted with someone else to put the finish on
one of their projects?

N Hurst wrote:
Has anyone out there contracted with someone else to put the finish on
one of their projects?

Nathan, you would be surprised how many do. Since I am a remodeling
contractor, I run into folks that are scared to death of finishing all
the time.
They talk to me after I refinish cabinets, stain, dye, or strip and
refinish.

While many homeowners and weekend warriors will happily brag about the
quality of their woodwork, they are almost without exception quite
humble about their wood finishing.

I hear, "well, this got away from me", "this was my first time with
that finish", "evidently I did something wrong", or the famous "they
guy at the store told me to do it this way - it's his fault". While
at a house, I have helped dozens get their projects back on track, and
hopefully, scared off some of their trepidation of finishing.

I would have to say that with almost 35 years of professional
woodworking behind me, finishing is the skill most woodworkers lack,
and the one they are most reluctant to learn.

Since most of the time I do the woodwork as well on my projects, I
tend to think of woodwork and finishing as two different skills, which
they are. Good finishing requires an entirely different skill set
than woodwork, but requires just as much discipline and practice to
get really good at it.

The good news is that you can practice all day long on the cheap to
learn technique and to use materials. A little finish goes a long way
when practicing, and a most of the time, there is some scrap around to
practice on.

At any rate, to answer your original question, I would think that any
competent upper end paint contractor would have that "one guy" to
apply your finishes. They will be able to brush or spray anything you
want. And in this economy, the might be pretty happy for the work.

If you want some kind of custom finish though, you should look at a
refinisher, or as PDQ said, a restorer. They will be adept at
applying oils, stains and topcoats than your garden variety finisher.

Good luck on your project!

Robert

This is probably a very good idea. A 3 year project is not the one for
learning a finishing technique. Backing up ain't to easy and sometimes
not even possible. Depending on the type of piece you are doing might
make a difference in who you go to.

If it is "cabinet like" then a cabinet finisher is typically very
available. There are shops that just do the finishing. The cabinet
shop I am most associated with is a big commercial operation and they
don't do any of their own finishing. They either ship it to their
finisher or a finisher does it after it's installed. So there are lots
of businesses that do just finishing.

That being said, if this is a furniture piece with lots of little
details that need attention, then a furniture refinisher would be your
best bet. The cabinet guys will charge lots extra if it scares them
and may not have the skills to do it right or worse yet might think
they do.

If you go with a vendor get a sample you can hold and feel to make
sure you are talking about the same thing in terms of color, gloss,
film thickness, etc.


On Feb 11, 9:45*am, N Hurst wrote:
Has anyone out there contracted with someone else to put the finish on
one of their projects?

I'm almost done with a project I've been working on for 3 years (off
and on, between home improvements and other stuff) that I'd like to
wrap up. Finishing my projects is not a strong point for me just yet,
and I'd like for this to really be done well, so I was thinking about
finding a cabinet shop or something and paying them to use some of the
more industrial strength spray-on finishes I've read about here on the
wreck.

Is this something a cabinet shop would even consider seriously, or
should I just stick to poly and hope no one notices the runny
finish? :-)

-Nathan

On Feb 11, 2:09*pm, "SonomaProducts.com" wrote:

If you go with a vendor get a sample you can hold and feel to make
sure you are talking about the same thing in terms of color, gloss,
film thickness, etc.

There's a good idea. Many times when I contract out for my services
people want me to submit a sample before beginning.

Great advice.

Robert

Well, I learned this one in reverse.

I was contracted to build a kitchen island in Cherry. The customer
said he wanted to match his existing kitchen and it was really dark
Cherry. I was afraid it was stained purple or something but he sid it
was natural but it was just much darker than normal Cherry. So I used
lye to darken the project and add some years of darkening. When the
customer came to pick it up I could see the question on his face and
he said "is that Cherry?" I was selling at craft shows at the time so
I offered to keep it and sell it at the shows and build him another
once I understood what color he really wanted. He took it anyway. Then
he was going to try and take it home in his convertable BMW but I
offered to deliver it. When I saw his kitchen cabs they looked like
fresh sawn Cherry to me.

Happily his wife liked to look so all was good, but since then I hand
the customer samples of finishes and have them sign the one they like.


On Feb 11, 10:35*pm, "
wrote:
On Feb 11, 2:09*pm, "SonomaProducts.com" wrote:

If you go with a vendor get a sample you can hold and feel to make
sure you are talking about the same thing in terms of color, gloss,
film thickness, etc.

There's a good idea. *Many times when I contract out for my services
people want me to submit a sample before beginning.

Great advice.

Robert

In Maine I'm the finish guy.Have a dedicated finishing shop
overhead air cleaner and clean heat

many painters have a finishing area
check with your local lumber supply house or professional paint store

Ed
wrote in message
...

N Hurst wrote:
Has anyone out there contracted with someone else to put the finish on
one of their projects?

Nathan, you would be surprised how many do. Since I am a remodeling
contractor, I run into folks that are scared to death of finishing all
the time.
They talk to me after I refinish cabinets, stain, dye, or strip and
refinish.

While many homeowners and weekend warriors will happily brag about the
quality of their woodwork, they are almost without exception quite
humble about their wood finishing.

I hear, "well, this got away from me", "this was my first time with
that finish", "evidently I did something wrong", or the famous "they
guy at the store told me to do it this way - it's his fault". While
at a house, I have helped dozens get their projects back on track, and
hopefully, scared off some of their trepidation of finishing.

I would have to say that with almost 35 years of professional
woodworking behind me, finishing is the skill most woodworkers lack,
and the one they are most reluctant to learn.

Since most of the time I do the woodwork as well on my projects, I
tend to think of woodwork and finishing as two different skills, which
they are. Good finishing requires an entirely different skill set
than woodwork, but requires just as much discipline and practice to
get really good at it.

The good news is that you can practice all day long on the cheap to
learn technique and to use materials. A little finish goes a long way
when practicing, and a most of the time, there is some scrap around to
practice on.

At any rate, to answer your original question, I would think that any
competent upper end paint contractor would have that "one guy" to
apply your finishes. They will be able to brush or spray anything you
want. And in this economy, the might be pretty happy for the work.

If you want some kind of custom finish though, you should look at a
refinisher, or as PDQ said, a restorer. They will be adept at
applying oils, stains and topcoats than your garden variety finisher.

Good luck on your project!

Robert