Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
A big misconception about clear finishes is that they create the beauty. The truth is, finish adds depth—but it also magnifies whatever is already there. Unlike paint, it won’t hide scratches, dents, or glue spots; it’ll put them on display.
Our first step toward a great finish is the right sanding progression. We work from coarse to fine, with each grit replacing the scratches left by the one before it with smaller, less visible scratches. There’s a myth that the finer you go, the better your wood will look. But finer isn’t automatically better. Sand too high, like 400 grit, and you can change how some stains and finishes are absorbed. The correct stopping point depends on the finish you’ve got in your hands, so check the back of the can to see what they recommend.
Even with a smooth surface, sharp edges can also weaken the look of a film-building finish. Imagine coating a nail. The finish can build evenly over the head and shaft, but it pulls thin around the sharp point. The same thing happens along a sharp wooden edge. Softening it with a couple of light sanding passes lets the finish build more evenly while making that edge less likely to be damaged.
At this point, the wood looks good. But we’re not done yet, because flaws can still be hidden away, waiting to shine as soon as the finish goes on. This is where raking light comes in. Imagine the sun setting and casting shadows across mountains. Light aimed across the wood at a low angle does the same thing, revealing problem spots like pigtails and swirl marks, as well as dents and random scratches.
After vacuuming away the fine dust, there’s still one more way to reveal what the wood is hiding. Lightly dampen a clean cloth with mineral spirits and wipe down the surface. This temporarily gives the wood a wet look, making problem areas suddenly pop up—like this scratch. Let the mineral spirits evaporate completely, fix your mistakes and then you're ready for your finish.
Like step by step projects? Check out the second channel! → @makethingswithrob
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Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
A big misconception about clear finishes is that they create the beauty. The truth is, finish adds depth—but it also magnifies whatever is already there. Unlike paint, it won’t hide scratches, dents, or glue spots; it’ll put them on display.
Our first step toward a great finish is the right sanding progression. We work from coarse to fine, with each grit replacing the scratches left by the one before it with smaller, less visible scratches. There’s a myth that the finer you go, the better your wood will look. But finer isn’t automatically better. Sand too high, like 400 grit, and you can change how some stains and finishes are absorbed. The correct stopping point depends on the finish you’ve got in your hands, so check the back of the can to see what they recommend.
Even with a smooth surface, sharp edges can also weaken the look of a film-building finish. Imagine coating a nail. The finish can build evenly over the head and shaft, but it pulls thin around the sharp point. The same thing happens along a sharp wooden edge. Softening it with a couple of light sanding passes lets the finish build more evenly while making that edge less likely to be damaged.
At this point, the wood looks good. But we’re not done yet, because flaws can still be hidden away, waiting to shine as soon as the finish goes on. This is where raking light comes in. Imagine the sun setting and casting shadows across mountains. Light aimed across the wood at a low angle does the same thing, revealing problem spots like pigtails and swirl marks, as well as dents and random scratches.
After vacuuming away the fine dust, there’s still one more way to reveal what the wood is hiding. Lightly dampen a clean cloth with mineral spirits and wipe down the surface. This temporarily gives the wood a wet look, making problem areas suddenly pop up—like this scratch. Let the mineral spirits evaporate completely, fix your mistakes and then you're ready for your finish.
Like step by step projects? Check out the second channel! → @makethingswithrob
Buy me a beverage! → buymeacoffee.com/makethings ←
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
