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Finishing Miniature FurnitureA Simple Finishing Technique
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Adding the finish will help project your miniature piece and make it easier to keep clean later when its on display. But the main reason I polyurethane my miniature furniture, all of my miniature furnishings for that matter, is that it adds depth to all the colors and intricacies of my finished piece. Looking at the miniature flower on the home page you can see how rich and vibrant the colors are. This is a result of giving the finished flower a light, sprayed on, coating of matte urethane. |
There are three different finishes that I use for finishing miniature furniture;
- Gloss: Used for a high sheen when finishing miniature furniture. I don't use this often because of personal preference, but you may like to use it for your miniature dining room furniture, for instance. Under the Painting Miniatures Section, Basic Painting, I discuss using this finish for making miniature kitchen appliances.
- Semi-Gloss: This is my preference for finishing my miniature furniture pieces. I will most often use this finish on the miniatures that I have stained, bringing out the wood grain and adding a slight luster to the finished miniature.
- Matte: I give all of my other miniatures a light coating of the Matte Urethane. It adds such depth and vibrancy to all the colors. It also provides protection from water or fingerprints.
Additionally, the urethane coating makes it easier to keep you miniature furniture or accessories clean from dust. A slight blast of air or light wiping with a soft cloth will keep your miniatures looking their best.
Follow these steps to get the Best Finish...
- Be sure your pieces are clean and free of any dust.
- Place your assembly on a pedestal of some sort. You will want to be able to turn the piece without touching it. Set the height such that you will be able to spray straight at the surface.
- Be sure that you are in a well ventilated area. Read all of the safety precautions on the product label. They are there for a reason.
- Protect the surrounding area from over spray.
- Shake the spray can well.
- Hold the spray can vertically 12 inches from the surface you are spraying.
- Depress the button fully and spray using a sweeping motion. Begin to spray off the part, pass over the assembly with a single smooth motion, and end the spray off the part, using slightly overlapping strokes.
- Apply thin, light coats to avoid runs and sagging. If the surface is looking wet, you're on the verge of applying too much paint.
- Apply a second coat within 2 hours but at least 20 minutes after the first coat. If you are going to sand between coats, then allow at least 24 hours before sanding.
Special note: Practice your spraying technique on a piece of scrap wood first. If you are going over stain, stain the practice piece first. The same if your spraying over a painted surface. This will be time well spent as it is a real pain to resand and refinish your pieces.
I believe this is an important part of the process to Finishing Miniature Furniture. Do give it a try and I'm sure you will agree. It's not hard to do if you are careful and practice first. It will add so much to the quality and appearance of your Miniature Masterpiece.
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