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Finishing & Coating Calculators

Calculate coverage for stains, varnishes, paints, oils, and other wood finishes. Plan sanding schedules and drying times.

10 free calculators in Finishing & Coating

Wood Finishing Calculations

A good finish protects and enhances the beauty of your woodwork. Getting the quantities right avoids running out mid-project or wasting expensive finishing products. These calculators help you estimate exactly what you need.

Coverage rates vary significantly between finish types. Oil-based stains typically cover 12–16 m² per litre, while thick varnishes may only manage 10–12 m² per litre. Our wood stain calculator and varnish calculator account for surface porosity, number of coats, and product coverage rates.

French polishing with shellac requires precise ratios of shellac flakes to methylated spirit. A standard “2-pound cut” uses 2 pounds of shellac per gallon of solvent. Our shellac calculator converts these traditional ratios to metric measurements for UK woodworkers.

Proper surface preparation is essential for a quality finish. Our sanding schedule calculator plans the correct grit progression and estimates sandpaper quantities, ensuring you achieve the smoothest possible surface before applying your chosen finish.