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 Thanks
for coming along! Here at TFS, each finisher is responsible for
producing
a wood finish from beginning to end. The finisher will select the
lumber he feels represents your Master Control panel that you will need
to supply TFS. Formulation of the finish (and in most cases,
production) will then take place. We use a number of coating
suppliers and will insure you that only top quality, lightfast dyes,
pigments,
toners, glazes, wiping stains, and topcoats are used for your samples.
After finishing is completed, the production run will arrive in our saw
room, were we will pull the lightest and darkest panel in the batch,
cut them into samples, and send to you for your approval. After the
parameters for the color and/or light/dark are established and
returned, production of the panels into your samples will commence. But
first, let's get back to the finishing room. All the panels or solid
lumber are finished together on large
easels we built to accommodate the consistency we are striving for. We
specially designed our custom sized spray booths with  extra
lighting incorporating color retention light bulbs to provide the
finisher with
a quality oriented, work environment. The finish room itself is
environmentally
controlled to provide a "coating-friendly" atmosphere. Regularly
scheduled
cleanings are maintained to insure a dust free coating for your wood
finish
samples.When an order is placed, a minimum number of panels (or moulding) will be produced. (When the samples are quality checked individually, we typically throw away 30%). If the finisher feels he may have a higher rejection rate because of the finish or quality of the face veneer or machining on solid lumber, he will produce a higher quantity of panels or moulding to obtain the minimum quantity of sample chips we need to complete your order. On are veneered products, all the veneer panels are separated by the log numbers that were established by our panel processors.  Your finish is
always
run from the same log and usually the same area from that log in order
to maintain a consistent coloration, effect, and wood characteristics.
We generally use and inventory panels that have the face veneer, slip
matched. This tends to minimize the veneer "flip" which most in
the industry knows - can confuse your customers. We always have
inventory on hand in Cherry, Walnut, Mahogany (plain,
quartered, and ribbon), Anigre (plain, quartered), Oak (flat cut - Red
& White), Ash (white), Beech (European
White), Sapeli, Sycamore (plain & English), and Hickory.  We also stock many unfinished panels in the
"exotic" wood species such as Bird's Eye Maple, Sapeli Pommele, Figured
Anigre, etc. We buy our logs from many different veneer mills. We can
procure
any species you may have in your line as well as composite face
veneers.
We have close working ties with our panel producers and lumber
suppliers
and can usually have panels or moulding made in a very short time. Now
lets get back to the finishing tour - The
process of finishing your samples include many stringent quality
control
measures that must be met. Each of the washcoats, sealers, and topcoats
that are applied are thoroughly cured in our production oven and sanded
completely before the next coat is applied. The coatings are constantly
being checked to insure a proper gloss level and industry approved
adhesion
specifications. The finish color is also rechecked during the
clearcoating
process to insure color movement is kept to a minimum. Adjustments will
be made if necessary to insure that the quality level and color
consistency you need, is maintained.  Some
of the wood finishes used in the woodworking industry and produced by
us have a closed-pored,
high gloss process used. We take the time needed to insure a consistent
fill level. We can reproduce any "rubbed" effects that many of our
customers still use in the furniture trade. From the simple,
off-the-gun, open-pored wood finish to the hand polished, high-gloss
"wet" look, you can count on TFS to reproduce
the look, feel and color of your wood finish. The backs of every
veneered panel we produce are cleaned, sanded, and thoroughly sealed up
by painting them black. On moulding
lumber, the backs are always finished. We want to insure that even the
back of wood finish sample shows quality workmanship. After a complete
cure of the topcoats, your product is rechecked again for proper gloss,
fill levels, and color. The product then proceeds to the saw room for
processing
of the lumber into your wood finish samples. We take every precaution
to
protect the finished surface of the lumber throughout this
process.  All
of the veneered samples we produce are routered with a bullnose
edge profile to smooth over and round off the edges. After the
processing
of the finished veneered panels or solid lumber mouldings, the product
is cut into individual samples and sized to your specifications. Each
individual sample is inspected against the parameters that you
established during the proofing process and any finish samples
that do not fit the specifications established by you, are
discarded. After the quality control check, the samples continue to the
labeling area. Most veneered samples will get the edges painted black
to match the backs. This covers up the edge, giving the illusion of a
solid piece of lumber. The samples are then labeled, usually
dated, and each sample inserted into a plastic sleeve, or a cover flap
is applied for finish protection. We can also build a number of your
finishes into fan decks or insert them into clear plastic catalog
pages. We package according to your specifications
and most shipments are usually shipped Fed Ex ground. Thanks for taking the brief tour of our process for producing wood finish samples at TFS. Time and time again, we have proven that we can produce wood finish samples with a higher quality representation, on time, and for less costs, versus your own manufacturing plants producing them. Please call or email me and I will be happy to send you samples of our work and provide you with a price quotation. Phil Spruit - President/Webmaster, Technical Finishing Services, Inc. Back to Home Page |