Rockler recently announced their new Mini Finishing Points, which are small pointed jigs that elevate your project off the table so you can finish multiple surfaces at once. They have small contact points which are said to be non-marring, so you can stain or paint your project’s top, bottom, and sides in a single session.
There are other products like these on the market, such as Painter’s Pyramids and Rockler’s Bench Cookie Cones, and they all work in a similar way. A feature unique to these Mini Finishing Points is how they can slip right into a T-track slot. Since they can be easily moved anywhere along a T-track, you can quickly configure them to handle projects of different sizes and shapes.
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Four structural ribs come together to form the point to support the product you are finishing. This gives the Finishing Points strength without bulk. These lightweight plastic jigs feature an approximate 3/8″ wide track key that friction fits into T-track with the same slot size, such as in Rockler’s T-track table, the DIY T-track table we just featured, or any T-track that accepts 5/16″ T-bolts.
When used with embedded T-track channels, Mini Finishing Points raise your project 1-1/8″ above the work surface.
If you don’t have any T-track tables or channels, you can also tack them down to a workbench top with the included brad nails. They’ll raise your project 1-1/4″ above the surface when mounted in this fashion. Nailed-down Mini Finishing Points can also be rotated to fine-tune their position. A small lip allows for easy prying with a claw hammer when it’s time to move or remove nailed-down points.
Mini Finishing Points are sold in packs of 12 and come with 12 brad nails. They’re packaged in a reusable clear plastic container.
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Price: $8
Buy Now (via Rockler)
Rockler describes these as economical, but you can get a pack of Painter’s Pyramids for less than $6 via Amazon as an add-on item. They’re not as narrow as these Finishing Points, or as quick to secure if you have a T-track table, but they can be used on a wider range of table surfaces, and even level floors.
Would you use these for your next painting or finishing project, or something else? They look to work best with a T-track table with multiple channels and spacing options, but it’s good to see that you can add them to any wooden worktop with just brad nail. That they can be tacked down with brad nails goes to show how compact they are. It’s also nice that they’re reusable.
ktash
Rockler also makes some cones that fit over their bench cookies. The advantage of these, or the ones you show here is that they don’t slide around like the painter’s pyramids. I have the cones and use them sometimes. There’s always the possibility of the piece moving slightly on these and then they will mar. Often I just finish one side, then the other, especially if I’m using water borne finishes.
Stuart
Yep, those are the “Bench Cookie Cones” that Ben pointed out in the post. There are merits to each of the products, but as you mentioned these can be constrained to adjustment in just one direction when used with T-track. But…. There are also Bench Cookie accessories that fit the new “Plus” version that allows them to be used with T-tracks too (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/rockler-bakes-up-new-styles-of-bench-cookies/%3C/a%3E%29. You’ll pay a lot more for the Bench Cookie-based system, although you do get a great multi-purpose setup for your money.
fred
The problem with finishing tables is that they get gummed-up with finish. If your not willing to let drips gum up you T-Tracks – IMO this is not a great idea.
I’ve tried lots of ideas over the years like:
1)Plastic overhead light grid panels with marbles placed strategically in the grid
2) Home-made bed of nails (brads)
3) pointed short dowels that fit into holes in a shop-made lazy-susan table
4) store bought painter pyramids
5) Rockler “sure-hook” cabinet door hangers
Nothing is perfect
JeffD
I don’t like them because they will cause indentations in soft wood.
ktash
I do have a scrap piece of melamine that I sometimes use for finishing, though not larger pieces. It has an interesting array of colors on it. But I agree with with fred about not wanting a clamping table to get gummed up.