A Set of Four Mahogany Domino Racks, 12" Long

Learn to Make Your Own Domino Racks

This is the natural color of the racks, they were sanded with 320 grit, sealed, sanded again with 400 grit, a final coat of sealer and then two coats of Marine varnish.

We have often been asked which varnish is the best, which finish or which sealer? Best is in the eye of the beholder. We try one and are pleased, so that is the best. A friend lets you try a different product, it was better than the one you had been using and now that is the best. The important thing is to realize that there is a best order to the steps of finishing and there are differences in what you can expect a finish to do. Between sanding and applying the next coat, complete dust removal is very important. This is done with mineral sprits and muslin cloth or a treated tack cloth.

Exterior varnishes, oil based varnishes and Marine Varnishes are all suitable for outdoor use. Polyurethane varnishes are an excellent choice for faster drying, lower odor and a durable (if somewhat "plastic") finish and they are available in a wide variety of options: water or solvent based, interior or exterior, clear or with color. Tables need a very good varnish because of the use and abuse that tables endure. An easy to use waterbased varnish that may be fine for a picture frame or music box may not be the best for a surface that you want to look good after years of use.

Before applying varnish, wood must be sealed and sanded. Skipping the sealer means the varnish will not adhere, it will flake or peel. For sealers, shellac or lacquer are reliable and fast drying, but not oder free or easy clean up. There are a few water based sealer products on the market, but they can be expensive and hard to find. The purpose of sealing the wood is to lower the porosity of the wood and to give a more reliable surface for the varnish. The finest finishes use more than one sealer coat, with fine grit and superfine steel wool rubbing to get the wood ready to give you a mirror finish when your varnish is dry.

Which Wood Sealers and Finishes are Best?

Because we all develop our own preferences in wood finishing products, it is a good idea to shop for finishes where the best selection of products is available. In our opinion, Rockler offers a great selection that includes sealers, lacquers, stains, oil finishes and varnishes of every kind. They have the tools you need to prepare, apply and clean up after; it is the best place to find what you need for wood finishing. For the racks shown here, we used 2 coats of lacquers and two coats of marine varnish.
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