I am in the process of putting an oil/varnish on a shaker blanket chest (FWW #172 Build a Shaker Blanket Chest- Charles Durfee) with a drawer. The chest is made of cherry except the drawer sides, back and bottom, which are made of poplar.The floor of the top section, which has a hinged lid, will have a 1/4 inch thick bottom of aromatic cedar. Obviously, this should not be finished so that the cedar can give off its familiar aroma. But what about the rest of the chest?
Should I finish the inside and the outside of the drawer sides, bottom and back?
Should the cavity, where the drawer slides in be finished?
Should the underside of the chest be finished?
Are there any general rules of thumb that one can apply (no pun intended) to what parts of a piece of furniture should be finished and are they different depending on the type of finish?
Replies
Mark,
Finishing drawers is optional. If you do, don't use your oil mixture. A thin coat or two of shellac is all that's needed. However many people like to leave drawers unfinished. It is a matter of opinion. Like I said, it's optional. The same goes for the cavity.
I would put a coat (or two) of shellac on the underside of the chest.
One rule of thumb to follow is never put an oil finish on the inside of a chest or carcass. It will smell for a very, very long time.
You didn't say anything about the inside of the lid. You can seal it with shellac and have no ill effects. Just let it cure for a short while before assembly. A few days to a week is safe.
You also should consider what you expect of the finish. For instance a table top will need far more protection than your chest. Let the piece determine what it needs.
Have fun,
Peter
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