Our first piece of advice is this: always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Other than that, here are a few basic guidelines to help you make the right decision. We love to see before, during and after photos of any wood finishing project. If you would like to share your project pictures with us and our followers, you can either send us some photos or share on our

Varnishes are tough, hard wearing and easily cleaned. Wood varnish is generally more durable than a wax or oil but is not as easy to maintain or repair if it becomes worn or damaged. Different t-bar lengths and sizes are available, so with wider t-bars you need more finish, and you have to ensure that your turns are very smooth to avoid the appearance of any mistakes. First, you need to decide on your varnish. Do you need an oil-based, solvent-based or water-based varnish? With our applicator selected we are ready to take the plunge.For the best protection, we recommend applying 1 coat ofManns Extra Tough Primerfollowed by 2 coats of Manns Extra ToughfloorVarnish but for today’s video as we are showcasing the varnish, I will just be applying that.Osmo Floor Brush, perfect for wood oils and re-usable time and time again. There’s a brush for every project, and using the right tool for the job will make the whole process easier and more enjoyable. It will be vital if you do do this that you create enough for full coverage of two coats, too have to mix a second batch to complete the job will result in a variation of colour. And for some application tips, the varnish I’m going to be using today is the Mann’s Extra Tough Floor Varnish in Matt. The applicator I will be using is the

The point of using a brush is that you’re forced to watch what you’re doing very closely, since the application process is pretty slow. This is especially vital for the acid cure application process because this type of finish tends to leave “missed spots” on the floor due to separation, which you can easily overlook if you apply the finish with a roller or t-bar. Before the main varnish is applied, you need to seal the wood’s surface. Fortunately, the varnish itself can act as your sealer. Proceed to thin an adequate amount of varnish to 50 percent by adding either gum turpentine or mineral spirits in a ratio of 1:1. Uniformly mix the two and strain twice into an open container where you’ll be dipping your brush. Floor varnish is a popular solution for protecting and enhancing the look of wooden floors. There are different types of floor varnish that you can choose from, such as oil-based, water-based, and polyurethane. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to understand the differences between them before making a decision. One of the main benefits of using floor varnish is that it can help seal the wood, preventing it from absorbing moisture and dirt. These coats should be applied in thin layers, allowing them to dry thoroughly before sanding between them. The final coat should be left to dry completely before using the floor. It is important to ensure that the drying and curing time is sufficient to ensure a long-lasting finish. Varnish should be applied in a well-ventilated area to ensure that inhaling the fumes is avoided. Proper safety measures such as wearing protective gear, including gloves, goggles, and a mask, should be considered. Applying varnish to your hardwood floor step by step requires strategic planning, proper application, sanding between coats, and ensuring sufficient drying and curing time. A perfect finish can be achieved, and your flooring will be protected and will last for a long time. Tips and Techniques for a Professional Finish Ideal for arts, crafts and small domestic projects. These cheap, disposable applicators are designed for single use so no need to clean.Varnishes offer increased durability and require less maintenance than oils, however it is more than likely need to re-sand the entire floor when it does eventually gets damaged and worn. The life of a varnish is typically between 5-10 years. It does depend on what varnish you use, the quality of the varnish, how busy your household gets and regularly you maintain and clean your floor. Hard Wax Oils

Use a fine bristled brush, clean cloth or foam brush – beware of cheap brushes, which often leave unsightly hairs behind as well as making obvious brush strokes. Ultimately as with any wood finish it is always best to do test areas, maybe decide what sheen level you like get a sample of the oil, get a sample of the varnish and try them out in different areas on your floor, see what one you like to apply and see what one works best in your home.Always work in a clean, dust-free, well ventilated area. If you’re varnishing a floor, open the windows and doors but try to keep draughts to a minimum in case they blow dust on your finish. Hand buffing and drill buffing brushes let you create a stunning deep shine and lustre with ease. Our low cost yet highly effective disposable foam brushes let you make a lovely, clean straight edge without leaving bristles behind. And floor brushes are perfect for applying any kind of oil, stain or varnish to large areas.

What floor finish is right for you does depend on what look you want to achieve, how durable you require the finish to be and also how much time you want to devote maintenance. I’ve finished both these boards and both of them look fantastic. The Varnish feels strong and it looks great, the Oil feels and looks a lot more natural you can actually feel the grain as you touch it. You can thin oil-based polyurethanes with mineral spirits, but it isn’t usually necessary. It’s almost always fine used straight from the tin. tools and accessories department to see just how many different types of applicator there are to choose from. And we sell a vast array of wood finishing products. So how do you know which applicators to use for which wood finishes? We thought it’d be useful to take a look at what’s available, when to use it and why. A special floor finish applicator is ideal for floors, and microfibre rollers come in two sizes. The 25cm version is ideal for large flat areas like the tops of furniture. The 10cm size is ideal for the areas surrounding a door, skirting etc. Fixtures like picture rails and stair spindles tend to be easier to finish with the Mako brush. Trim pads are good for use with water-based products, because they don’t hold on to finish. When applying water-based polyurethane finish to a hardwood floor, you always want to use use a synthetic applicator (except for synthetic lambswool.) Trim pads are also great for cutting into corners and small spaces. RollersCotton cloths are absorbent and perfect for applying oils and stains. Microfibre cloths have thousands of tiny fibres per square centimetre, so they work really well with wood cleaning products. There’s a specialist cloth for the job whether you’re applying finishes, buffing or cleaning a wooden surface, and there’s a product designed for every finish whether it’s oil, a wax wood finish, lacquer, varnish or stain. How to decide which wood finishing supplies you need Apply a very thin coat with a fine brush or foam pad. Work in the same direction as the wood grain. To avoid raising the grain don’t apply too much at once – it’s much better to be safe than sorry, so take it easy. The first coat ought to dry in a couple of hours and while you don’t have to lightly sand (denib) between coats, professionals usually do, as it can help to achieve a smoother finish. If using a primer, 2 coats of water-based lacquer are usually enough; if not using a primer, then 3 coats may be necessary to offer optimum protection. How to apply solvent-based polyurethane varnishes?