The exercises may be stained or varnished or finished in shellac. There are many sorts of prepared stains which give a very serviceable finish. These may be had, with directions for use, of all dealers in paints and varnishes.

A very handy and cheap method of coloring soft woods is to apply a thin coat of any color desired and wipe off with a cloth until the grain of the wood shows through the paint. The common colors ground in oil and thinned with turpentine are used for this purpose. After the stain has dried the piece may be finished with a coat of furniture wax or a coat of shellac or varnish.