Replies

1. 
   Seth_Frankel_ | Mar 17, 2002 05:18pm | #1

   *
   Dave,

   To some degree it depends on your level of perfection and desire to have all surfaces treated equally. You're going to get a range of answers. Some pros build that into their costs, some don't. Some customers demand that level of finish, some don't. Some amateurs don't really care about the bottom. Some do.

   At a minimum, regardless of how thorough you might be, it's not a bad idea to have some finish on all surfaces to prevent unequal moisture exchange and prevent irregular movement. That can be accomplished without "going to town" on the non-show surfaces. If you don't want to wax it, fine, don't. Waxing isn't going to affect the moisture exchange
   i that
   much. It's the base finish that matters most.

   Personally, I'm sickened when I see a stained piece of furniture that's got rag marks where the finisher stopped staining, just barely out of sight (for those with no interest in looking a bit lower or behind). But that's all part of the broad range of stuff out there that's called
   i furniture.

   Best,
   Seth

1. 
   Lee_Grindinger | Mar 17, 2002 08:11pm | #2

   *Substrate is the key concern here. Most commercial substrates are particle board or MDf and these do not need the same treatment on the underside as the topside because these materials do not behave as a material with grain does. MDF and particle board are pretty easy to keep flat so it's certainly not uncomon to see one side only veneered or finished.If you're making furniture with plywood or solid wood it would behoove you to treat both sides similarly.Lee