Woodworking Tip: Paint Wood Pieces before Assembling the Furniture

Oftentimes if you are assembling a large or complex piece of furniture; it is easiest to paint the wood before it is completely assembled. When we built the entertainment project, we assembled some of the large pieces and primed and painted it before we put on the back panels, face frames, crown, baseboard and doors and hardware. We had easier access to tight areas by painting the wood first. We were also able to paint an even coat. Obviously the paint is going to get dinged up a little during the assembly, so you’ll have to go back over it and touch it up or put a final coat on it, but it is much easier to touch it up then to put two or three coats on it in tight spaces. If you are painting a small or less complex project, then save the painting until the end and do it all at once.