FDM - June 2009

FDM
HIGH VISIBILITY

John W. Davis, ASMP, DVDesign Group, Inc.

Wood range hoods for the Ritz condo project were fabricated in the FCS shop.

Finishing
strength

Jess Lewis believes that the

FCS finishing department is one of the company’s most important strengths.

“Our finish department is our selling point. That’s what we’re noted for,” he says. “We have the finest finishing department in North Texas. Our finish is just as good or better than many of the major architectural woodwork or cabinet manufacturers.”

FCS uses conversion varnishes, Valspar or Sherwin Williams finishes, Kremlin finishing equipment and an Allen Bradley Panel View 550 Prime heat halogen system. They are doing more distressing. Once one customer sees a distressed finish, they want it too, Lewis explains. FCS is also finishing black bases with white covering so the black shows

through. The door is painted
white, scuffed and painted
white again. Then it is scuffed
with 150 grit and the paint is
removed from the edges. Then it is
glazed with brown, left to dry and wiped
clean. The door is then sealed, scuffed
and topcoated.

FCS also prefinishes edgebanding by wrapping it around a drum and finishing it. FCS constructed a revolving drum, which spins while wrapping the edgebanding around it, finishes the edgebanding as they normally would, lets it dry and then removes and rerolls the edgebanding. They then apply the finished edgebanding to cut materials.

“Experience is the main thing. By hand sanding, we end up with a very good finish,” Lewis says.

positioning and Powermatic shaper are also used. FCS plans to buy a new three-head widebelt sander in the near future to replace an older machine. They are also installing a new dust collection system and electrical and compressed air to handle the larger pieces of equipment.

“You really need good dust collection and compressed air for the sander otherwise the machine won’t do what it’s supposed to,” Lewis says.

FCS’s location in East Dallas includes the wood shop and storage building with the dry wall operation next door. The two buildings occupy

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