It’s difficult to hire people as it is. But it’s especially difficult to find the right finisher.
They need to be a scientist and an artist.
To achieve color consistency they have to consider countless variables like weather, temperature, humidity, sanding, solvents, coatings, and so on.
When I'm speaking to the woodshop owners behind closed doors I often hear this: “I can't find that guy or gal”.
So today we’ve invited Diane Shattuck. She is a seasoned woodworking professional with vast experience from finishing and operating her shop to selling finishing lines and working in manufacturing.
As a corporate trainer, professional speaker, and owner of the Professional Finishing Academy and Consulting, Diane also teaches at the Florida Woodworking School.
And today she is your go-to expert for finding the right finisher for your woodshop.
Finding the right finisher is tricky because you need to find someone who is very detail-oriented.
Someone who is going to listen and take advice, because finishing is constantly evolving.
You're going to have people that come in and go “yeah, I've been finishing for 15 years”.
But they may have been an applicator and not a finisher.
So you need a way to qualify solid job candidates based on their knowledge and skill…
That’s why Diane uses and recommends using a “Finishing Analysis Quiz”...
It’s a multiple-choice quiz that helps you analyze the critical thinking skills of the job candidates.
She typically includes one right answer, two good ones, and two silly ones.
Each question should get incrementally a bit harder - moving from general to specific.
She recommends including sanding, stain, coating, troubleshooting, equipment, and application sections in your quiz.
The specific types of questions would depend on your area’s weather and your shop's particular environment.
But one thing is universal - attention to job safety and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
You don’t want to hire someone who will endanger themselves and potentially others when dealing with toxic chemicals and fumes.
Diane, in her twenties, faced a nightmarish health scare. Nitrocellulose lacquer, an old-school spray, turned her day upside down. Despite wearing a respirator, her skin absorbed the chemicals, and she passed out.
So, make sure your new finisher is not PPE averse…
Going over EVERY little detail of finishing is way beyond the scope of this article - but Diane shared some non-negotiables your finisher must be aware off...
A storyboard is a visual guide detailing each step of the finishing process, acting as a recipe for uniform results.
To illustrate just how important it is here’s a cautionary tale.
In the heart of Tampa, a project unfolded, involving 26 meticulously sequenced four-by-eight-sheet panels for a lawyer's office.
These panels had to be a perfect match.
The project's owner enlisted Diane's consulting expertise.
Diane collaborated with the shop’s finisher to create a detailed storyboard, mapping out the color mixing and the entire finishing process.
However, the finisher, confident in his 15 years of experience, decided to ignore the storyboard, declaring:
"I don't need no stinking storyboard."
The consequences were disastrous.
When the panels were installed, none of them matched. The client was furious. He demanded the panels be uninstalled and returned.
Diane had to create a new storyboard because the application of stripping chemicals and sanding altered the wood's composition.
Despite Diane's efforts, the finisher remained stubborn.
He ignored the storyboard once again.
The finisher's resistance to using the storyboard led to further complications…
So, when he ignored these variables the coloring was uneven. AGAIN.
After multiple failed attempts, he finally embraced the storyboard and achieved consistency.
However, the damage was done, and he lost his job due to the owner's growing frustration.
The moral of the story: sometimes, the visual guide is more valuable than years of experience.
That’s the power of a storyboard and why your finisher must use one.
Issues from persistent swirls to post-CNC mishaps like the notorious “onion skin” pattern can quickly snowball into unnecessary workload.
Or worse, a customer can refuse your services because of inconsistent quality…
So you should tackle issues early to avoid the extra grind.
So you need to establish KPIs and dashboards.
Track equipment maintenance, proactively and reactively (routine tasks like draining compressors and fixing CNC glitches).
And make sure your finisher has the right compressor…
In your shop, the compressor plays the role of the heart, pulsating life into every tool.
Diane says the compressor is kind of like your business.
The motor's power? That's how much money you make. The tank size? Think of it as your savings account. And each tool hooked to the compressor? Well, that's a bill you need to pay.
Your compressor's limited, and running a spray gun might leave other tools gasping for air.
So, Diane recommends looping your airlines back to the compressor – it keeps the air flowing smoothly.
No tug of war when other tools kick into action.
Also, don't be fooled by a big tank.
An 80-gallon, five-horsepower compressor might sound impressive, but you should aim for four CFM per horsepower.
Applying Diane’s strategies guarantees consistent results, safeguarding your business from costly errors.
As you can see it’s not all about hiring the right person. You also need to make sure your equipment and SOPs are in line.
If you’d like to hear a more in-depth breakdown of Diane Shattuck's insights I highly recommend listening to the full episode on “How Do I Hire The Right Finisher” on The Cabinet Maker Profit Systems Podcast.
Tune in for a wealth of knowledge that can reshape the trajectory of your business.
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