Finishing materials and consumables
This family doesn't gather materials to cut or print, but materials to use: abrasives, finishes, adhesives and consumables that accompany every project. The laser/CNC/3D-printing columns count for little here: the value is in knowing which product to use, on what and with what precautions.
How to read the table
Note: for this family the Laser / CNC / 3D-printing columns generally don't apply. These aren't materials to work, but support products (abrasives, finishes, adhesives). The “Food safe” entry, where present, refers to the fully polymerised finish, not to the liquid product.
Abrasives
Abrasive papers and cloths, pastes and pads, chosen by grit. You work from coarse to fine without skipping steps, otherwise the deep scratches stay visible under the finish. Support consumables, not materials to be worked.
| Material | Laser | CNC | 3D printing | Food safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abrasive paper (silicon carbide) | — | — | No | No |
| Abrasive paper (corundum) | — | — | No | No |
| Mole e dischi abrasivi | — | — | No | No |
| Abrasive polishing paste | — | — | No | No |
| Abrasive pads (Scotch-Brite) | — | — | No | No |
Wood finishes
Oils, varnishes, lacquers and waxes for wood. Oils penetrate and give a natural look (some food-safe once fully polymerised); varnishes and lacquers create a protective film. Food safety depends on the specific product, not on the fact that it's natural.
| Material | Laser | CNC | 3D printing | Food safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural beeswax | — | — | No | No |
| Outdoor wood preservative | — | — | No | No |
| Nitrocellulose lacquer | — | — | No | No |
| Danish oil | — | — | No | No |
| Boiled linseed oil | — | — | No | No |
| Olio Rubio Monocoat | — | — | No | No |
| Wood bleach (oxalic acid) | — | — | No | No |
| Shellac | — | — | No | No |
| Polyurethane varnish (for wood) | — | — | No | No |
Metal finishes
Treatments and finishes for metals: anodising, bluing, patinas, plus the primers that improve paint adhesion on smooth surfaces. Many products require ventilation and protection.
| Material | Laser | CNC | 3D printing | Food safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anodising (aluminium) | — | — | No | No |
| Bluing (chemical solution) | — | — | No | No |
| Cerakote | — | — | No | No |
| Olio minerale / WD-40 | — | — | No | No |
| Polishing compounds (Autosol, Flitz) | — | — | No | No |
| Epoxy primer (for metals) | — | — | No | No |
| Zinc-rich primer | — | — | No | No |
| Two-component epoxy paint | — | — | No | No |
Adhesives
Adhesives chosen according to the materials to be joined: cyanoacrylate for quick, small joints, two-part epoxy for structural ones, vinyl (PVA) for wood, specific products for plastics and metals. Always read the safety data sheet: some require ventilation.
| Material | Laser | CNC | 3D printing | Food safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyanoacrylate (CA glue) | — | — | No | No |
| Contact adhesive (neoprene) | — | — | No | No |
| Two-part epoxy adhesive | — | — | No | No |
| Polyurethane glue (Gorilla Glue) | — | — | No | No |
| UV epoxy resin (adhesive) | — | — | No | No |
| VHB double-sided tape (3M) | — | — | No | No |
| PVA wood glue (Vinavil) | — | — | No | No |
Working with Finishing materials and consumables: what to know
Abrasives (sandpapers, cloths, pastes) are chosen by grit: coarse grits to rough out, fine grits to finish, always proceeding in stages without skipping steps, otherwise the coarse scratches remain visible under the finish.
Wood finishes range from oils (penetrating, natural-looking, some food-safe once polymerised) to varnishes and lacquers (a protective surface film) to waxes. The food-safe distinction is crucial and depends on the specific product and its complete polymerisation, not on the fact that it's “natural”.
Metal finishes include treatments such as anodising, bluing and patinas, plus the primers that improve paint adhesion on smooth surfaces.
Adhesives are chosen according to the materials to be joined: cyanoacrylate (instant) for quick, small joints, two-part epoxy for structural joints, vinyl (PVA) for wood, specific adhesives for plastics and metals. Many solvents and some hardeners (e.g. isocyanates in certain polyurethanes) require ventilation and protection: always read the product's safety data sheet.