Tag: Finishes

The Best Type Of Sandpaper To Use For Prepping A Paint Job
by David Burgess on 0

The Best Type Of Sandpaper To Use For Prepping A Paint Job

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned woodworker, sanding can be a bit of a chore. But with a few tips and tricks, you can make the process go more smoothly and get better results.

Choose the right sandpaper

There are a variety of sandpaper types available, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. For most projects, you’ll want to use either aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sandpaper.

Aluminum oxide is the most common type of sandpaper and will work for most projects. It’s durable and long-lasting, and it can be used on a variety of materials.

Silicon carbide is a good choice for sanding hardwoods, as it’s very sharp and will remove material quickly. However, it can also clog up quickly, so you’ll need to clean it frequently.

Start with a coarse grit

When you start sanding, it’s important to use a coarse grit sandpaper. This will remove the majority of the material quickly and help to level out the surface.

Once you’ve removed the majority of the material, you can switch to a finer grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.

Use even pressure

When sanding, it’s important to use even pressure. This will help to avoid creating gouges or uneven surfaces.

Use a sanding block

A sanding block can help to evenly distribute the pressure you’re putting on the sandpaper and will also help to avoid creating gouges.

Clean the surface regularly

As you sand, the surface will start to clog up with debris. This can dull the sandpaper and make it less effective.

To avoid this, it’s important to clean the surface regularly. A simple way to do this is to use a vacuum cleaner with the hose attachment.

Finish with a fine grit

Once you’ve removed the majority of the material, you can switch to a finer grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.

For most projects, you’ll want to finish with a grit between 220 and 320.

Apply a finish

Once you’ve finished sanding, it’s important to apply a finish to the surface. This will help to protect it from damage and keep it looking its best.

There are a variety of finishes available, and the best one for your project will depend on the type of wood and the desired look.

A few common finishes include lacquer, polyurethane, and Danish oil.

Sand with the grain

When sanding, it’s important to sand with the grain of the wood. This will help to avoid damage and create a smoother surface.

Use a dust mask

When sanding, it’s important to wear a dust mask to avoid inhaling the fine particles.

Take your time

Sanding can be a bit of a tedious task, but it’s important to take your time and do it right.

If you rush the process, you’ll likely end up with an inferior finish and a surface that’s more likely to be damaged.

Share on Read Full Story
Book Review: Figure It Out! by Christopher Hart
by David Burgess on 0

Book Review: Figure It Out! by Christopher Hart

Christopher Hart’s book, “Figure It Out!” is basically a beginners guide to drawing the human form. It’s not an advanced book of everything you ever wanted to know about drawing the human body, but it is a book that will get most artists comfortable drawing the human figure. He’s got his own techniques, and a few unique examples for demonstration, and the most important thing about this book is simplification.

Christopher Hart has built himself a virtual empire when it comes to How-To drawing books. If you search Amazon for his name, literally thirty or more titles will be returned, in the search. Go to any bookstore, and the drawing section will be dominated by his name. He has garnered a bit of criticism, however, due to the fact that his drawing instruction is geared more towards the comic artists, than those looking to represent realism. He’s also been criticized for not doing all of his own drawing. Many of his books are filled with the art of other artists. However, much of the art is superb. Hart himself is not a recognized comic book artist, and he will routinely employ artists that are. However, what he does well is he covers all of his bases.

For me in particular, the book, “Figure It Out!” took me from being very tentative with my drawing of the human form, to feeling like I could conquer just about any pose. His instruction begins with the head as a basic shape, and then moves on to the body. He states that the body is more or less all about nailing down the torso, and he gives a great analysis about how to layout the torso with a few main angles. He then goes on to demonstrate the process by showing human poses using only stick figures. Simplification is his key.

Remember when you were a kid, and you’d draw stick figures? Well, guess what? You were, apparently, right to do this. Hart demonstrates this by nailing down intricate stick figures of the human form. He shows that this is all that’s necessary to get the form down. One of the chapters, called “Body Dynamics,” is dedicated to drawing dozens and dozens of stick figures, and by the end, I felt like I had a handle on manipulating the human form. Each successive chapter goes into more detail on fluffing up the human form, as in adding the muscles and the clothing. The book finishes with some fairly unique poses, that demonstrate the human form in all sorts of angles, specifically showing things like foreshortening, and hiding appendages, and some other complex poses.

The book isn’t an end all be all book of drawing the human form. It’s a starting point to get the confidence for the hard stuff, and it was all I needed to help me get over the hump, and help me feel more comfortable about tackling what I had up until that point felt was the overly complex human form. After reading the book, there are still things that may be out of my reach, but I certainly don’t feel like I need to shy away from anything either. In fact, most poses, I can bang out fairly quickly.

Share on Read Full Story