Knowledge Improves Cash Flow 9/13/2011 12:24:00 PM 
Fundamentally (and, yes, obviously), two factors determine cash flow:
1. How fast money comes in
2. How fast money goes out
I’d like to focus on bringing money in and how we can make improvements in this area. The faster we get the work done, and done right, the faster we get paid. One area that has been historically troublesome for woodworkers is the finishing department. Somehow, finishing has often been looked at as just a final enhancement to the real work of getting the details right and fabricating the product. “What’s the big deal? Why isn’t it done yet, it’s been in the finishing department for a whole day?”
Depending on the job, finishing can be just as important as getting the size or functionality of a product right. It can also be just as challenging. This is literally the part of the job that is staring the customer right in the face — and with a magnifying effect on the wood. It can either make or break the aesthetic appeal of your work.
Getting the finish right, especially for high-end work is not a simple matter. Various factors that must be considered are:
- Wood species
- Color matching
- Sheen
- Contrast
- Clarity
- Pore-filling
- Durability
Each of these factors contains many variations, some of which are not so simple. Take contrast, for example. It’s not just a matter of how much the annual rings stand out in oak. Many figured woods have a characteristic called chatoyance that gives the wood a silky, luminous luster. This luster can be accentuated with the right kind of stain and finish combination or it can be muted into oblivion. This may seem like an extreme example, but knowing how to get the most out of our products may be the key to getting jobs we might otherwise never get. It can make us stand out above the crowd.
One factor that can stop our cash flow in its tracks is when a problem with the finish occurs and nobody knows why. We can call our finishing material supplier, our equipment manufacturer, ask colleagues, or try to look the problem up on line. These attempted solutions may or may not work. The more knowledge you or your finisher has when approaching the problem, the better the chance of success.
The key to finishing efficiently and effectively is knowledge. Knowledge of the characteristics of various species of woods, dyes, pigments, finish resins, solvents, application equipment and how they all work together.
Effective learning involves a combination of three methods:
- Formal learning of the basics in all aspects of the finishing process. This works best in a college-like setting, but very few programs exist for wood finishing in this country. The best one I know of is the Wood Finishing Technology program at the Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn.. Graduates I know from this program have a solid base of knowledge from both theoretical learning and hands-on experience.
- Continuing education especially as it applies to the use of new materials and equipment. This can be achieved through the use of a consultant or, for new equipment already purchased, the manufacturer or distributor.
- Hands-on experience in the workplace. There’s no substitute for this. In other countries, especially in Europe, formal apprenticeship programs still exist where students have classroom training along with real world work experience. If possible, find a work-study program in your area that includes a comprehensive study in wood finishing. Don’t be surprised if there aren’t any.
Unfortunately, most of these options require outlay of time and money, not at all helpful for your immediate cash flow. Investment in knowledge will, however, lead to advantages that can help not only your cash flow but help to build a better future for your company.
