Make a magnet sculpture

Step 3 Start by finishing

It's easiest to finish the parts before they are assembled, so do that first. The degree of finishing is up to you, but a little time invested at this stage will result in a nicer end product. At a minimum, spend a little quality time with a piece of sandpaper to smooth the dowels and blocks.

A good way to keep the flat surfaces of the blocks flat is to tape a piece of sandpaper down on a glass tabletop. Sand with the grain of the wood as much as possible, start out with 180 grit sandpaper, then move to the finer 320 grit. If you've done a good job on the blocks you'll have sharp, 90 degree edges, and pointy corners. "Break" each edge and corner by holding the sharp edge/point on the sandpaper and taking a few passes.

Once you've got everything smooth, wipe the pieces down to remove dust and you're ready to apply a finish. Wood finishing is a Big Topic, if you've got a favorite approach, use it here. If not, a simple approach (used for making wooden puzzles) is to dunk the pieces in a 50/50 mix of brushing lacquer and lacquer thinner, then remove them and immediately wipe off the excess. The parts will dry quickly, then you can rub in a wax finish to add a little shine.