Baltic birch boxes - best order to finish (inside or half) ?

[mwildt]

Made some Baltic birch boxes, like 10. 1/4 ply, box jointed. Size is 3.5" high, 2 1/4" wide and 7" long. Has an internal divider and a bottom that is dadoed in. Figured I'd clear coat them. Outside is no problem it's more about the inside.

Should I glue them up then fiddle with applying the finish or do it befor glue up ? Or glue up with out one side then finish the inside then add the final side and then finish outside ?

Keeping finish out of the dadoes and the box joints might be achieved with tape I guess.

Looking for what is easiest with such small boxes, not my usual project.

 

[tjbnwi]

Spray or hand applied?

Tom

 

[mwildt]

Wish I had a sprayer, but not yet. It will be brush by hand.

 

[tjbnwi]

Seal, then assemble.

Tom

 

[mwildt]

Yeah, I was leaning that way. Thanks for the push. Time to bring the tape out.

 

[bertv]

There is a reason there is painters tape in the widths that plywood comes in. So: finish before glue-up for the insides.

 

[mwildt]

That would be nice for sure. But haven't seen that over here. Did some searching.

Some widths per the orange box stores. Blue painters tape.

.94"
1"
1.41"
1.5"
1.88"
2"
2.83"

But a more global search did reveal 1/4" does indeed exist, online only and it wasn't even listed on 3Ms site despite being 3M.

 

[junk731]

Good Autobody suppliers will have all the widths of tape.