Now that you've completed your woodworking project, you need to think about finishing it. A proper finish will protect the wood, and will enhance the appearance. Some woodworkers choose to stain the wood, while others will choose paint. Both have their advantages and
disadvantages. Stains will darken the wood to varying degrees, depending on the stain and how many coats are applied, but still is a wood tone finish. Paint comes in many colors, so you have your choice of a color other than just brown.
Regardless of what finish you want to use, you'll need to sand the wood. For flat surfaces, you can sand them by hand, but a power sander would make things much faster. Inside curves can be sanded by hand or with a spindle or drum sander. For small curves, you can find small sanding drums for electric drills or rotary tools. You will want to use a few different grades of sandpaper. Start with a coarse grade of sandpaper, and work your way to the finer grades for the finishing sanding. You don't need to use every grade of sandpaper available, just choose a coarse grade, a couple of medium grades, and then a fine grade for the finishing work.
When you choose your finish, whether paint or stain, or choosing a varnish, you'll want to choose something that dries fairly quickly, to avoid having dust stick to the wet surface, and leaving unsightly spots. You should also test the paint or stain on a piece of scrap wood, to make sure
that the finish will be to your liking. Always work in an area with plenty of ventilation. Be sure to properly clean your brushes afterwards, and properly dispose of any rags used in staining.
If you choose to use paint, you may want to first apply a coat of primer. A coat of primer will help the paint to stick. Paint can be applied either with a brush, or a spray gun, or you may find a color you like in spray cans. Don't try to apply a thick coat of paint all at once. Apply a thin coat, and allow it to dry before applying another coat. You should lightly sand between each coat of paint, to make sure the surface is smooth. Take your time, and you'll get a much better finish.
Instead of covering the surface of the wood, stains simply darken the wood, for a darker wood tone than the unstained wood. When you stain a piece of wood, the wood grain will still show through. Stains are generally applied to the surface with a rag. Put some of the stain on the wood, and wipe it in with the rag. Again, you'll want to lightly sand the wood between coats of stain to ensure a smooth finish. After the final coat has dried, you will want to add a coat of varnish or shellac to protect the wood.
Whether you've built a birdhouse, a bookshelf, or something else entirely, a proper finish will make it look much more attractive. Just be sure to make sure that the finish that you choose will provide adequate protection for your project.