You shouldn’t finish the inside of a cedar chest. Leave it totally unfinished. The reasons are, first, you don’t want to seal in the cedar aroma that protects against moths, and second, the cedar fumes will destroy (soften to the point of stickiness) most finishes. If...
Wiping varnish is a term I coined about 20 years ago to categorize (so we could understand what we were dealing with) a number of finishes that were each represented by manufacturers as unique, when in reality they were all simply oil-based varnish or polyurethane...
Wiping varnish is a term I coined about 20 years ago to categorize (so we could understand what we were dealing with) a number of finishes that were each represented by manufacturers as unique, when in reality they were all simply oil-based varnish or polyurethane...
Lacquer thinner is the solvent and thinner used with all types of lacquer, including nitrocellulose, CAB-acrylic and catalyzed. It’s the most interesting of the finish solvents because it’s composed of half-a-dozen or so individual solvents. Manufacturers vary these...
Solvents are difficult to understand because they all look alike in the can. One way to make sense of them is simply to learn what each does (see Understanding Solvents, Part I). A more sophisticated and very helpful method for understanding solvents is to organize...
Solvents make stains and finishes work. You will never feel really comfortable with finishing until you have an understanding of solvents. Following is an overview of each of the most commonly available solvents. For a deeper understanding that better relates all the...
Mineral spirits, naphtha and turpentine dissolve wax and don’t damage any finish when used sparingly. So remove wax crayon marks by wiping over them with a cloth dampened with one of these solvents. Candle drips are usually too thick to be removed easily with one of...
Glazing is the process of adding and manipulating pigmented color between coats of finish. By definition, glazing is always done over a sealed surface, never directly on the wood. When color is applied directly to wood, it is called staining. Though you can use a...
Glazing is the process of adding and manipulating pigmented color between coats of finish. By definition, glazing is always done over a sealed surface, never directly on the wood. When color is applied directly to wood, it is called staining. Though you can use a...
Pine is the most notorious wood for blotching. Special products are sold for reducing blotching on pine, but they are only modestly effective—even when used properly. By far, the most effective method of eliminating blotching when staining pine is to use a gel stain....
