From Missed Spots to Master Finishes: How Our Craft Evolved

When I first started building furniture, I had no clue what I was doing.

I remember one of the first entry tables we made—we stained the top and made it look good… from above. But underneath? Totally bare. I figured, “No one’s ever going to look under there.”

Turns out, I was wrong.

We delivered that table, feeling pretty proud of ourselves, and the customer crouched down, twisted his head under the top, and said:
“Hey, why isn’t this stained?”

Busted.

We were caught red-handed. I’ll never forget the awkward silence. We apologized, took the piece back, sanded it down, and stained the entire thing—top to bottom, inside and out—like we should’ve done in the first place.

That moment changed everything for me.
It was the start of what I now call our “no shortcuts” era. Ever since, I’ve made it a point to treat every inch of every piece—yes, even the hidden parts—with the same level of care. Even if no one ever sees it, we’ll know it’s done right.

The Clear Coat Phase

Early on, we didn’t even use clear coats. I thought they were unnecessary—just an extra step for no real reason. But the more we built, especially small dining tables, the more people started asking:
“Is it sealed?”
“Will water ruin it?”
“Is it protected?”

Eventually, I gave in and decided to try a clear coat. And honestly, I loved it. It gave the wood a smooth, finished feel instead of that dry, raw texture. From that point forward, we started applying clear coats to every single piece.

But here’s the thing—we were doing it all by hand.

We used polyurethane and brushed it on, one slow, milky coat at a time. We’d brush along the grain, wait for it to dry, sand lightly, then do another coat. Two or three coats per piece. I swear, I got so used to brushing straight lines, I could do it in my sleep.

It worked… but it was time-consuming. Painfully slow. And when we moved into a new shop—after a fire forced us out of the old one—the space didn’t have AC. Summer heat, no airflow, sticky poly—everyone was grumpy, tired, and losing patience waiting for pieces to cure.

The Spray Gun Era

That’s when our neighbors—some cabinetmakers—stepped in.

They watched us brushing coat after coat and were like:
“Why are you still doing it this way? Just use a spray gun.”

That advice changed our entire process.
I picked up a spray gun, tested it out, and instantly saw the difference.
What used to take hours now took minutes.
We were applying cleaner coats, faster, and getting better results. I never looked back.

Discovering Lacquer

After about a year of using polyurethane with the spray gun, I started wanting something better. The poly was okay, but I didn’t love the feel. It worked, sure—but I wanted a finish that felt more natural, more like actual wood.

That’s when I started researching lacquer.

I bought some, sprayed a few test pieces, and was hooked. The feel was better, the drying time was faster, and it gave the wood this warm, smooth, almost silky finish. The only downside? The smell. It was strong—really strong.

Thankfully, not long after that, we moved into a new shop with a dedicated paint booth, so the fumes weren’t an issue anymore. It was the final step in leveling up our finishing game.

Where We Are Now

Today, our finishing process is completely different from where we started.

We stain every surface, even the hidden ones. We use professional spray equipment for smooth, even coats. We apply durable lacquer finishes that not only protect but elevate the feel of the piece. And most importantly—we never cut corners.

What used to be an afterthought is now one of our signatures. I genuinely believe a good finish can make or break a piece. It’s the final touch, the part that says: “We cared about this.”

It took some humbling moments, a few customer callouts, and a lot of trial and error to get here—but I wouldn’t trade that journey for anything.

— David