It’s common to hear woodworkers lament that they don’t like finishing because they are afraid of ruining their woodworking project. So the following is an important point to keep in mind: The only thing you can do in finishing that can’t be fixed fairly easily is to...
There are two ways to get a satin (matte) finish—that is, a finish with less shine and reflection than gloss: rub the finish with abrasives or use a finish that contains flatting agents. There are pros and cons to each. The easier of the two, by far, is to use a...
There are a number of considerations when choosing the type of finish you want to use. These include durability, ease of clean-up, odor, etc. But one consideration doesn’t seem to be fully appreciated, and that is the color the finish imparts to the wood. The...
Say you stain an object with a store-bought oil (“wiping”) stain and the color is too dark. Assuming you haven’t yet applied a finish, how do you lighten it? Most importantly, don’t sand. Whatever you do, you have to do the same everywhere to keep the color even, and...
Many tropical woods, with the notable exception of mahogany, contain an oily resin that causes oil and varnish finishes to not dry well. The oily resin gets into the finish and keeps the finish molecules from hitting each other and crosslinking. The resin acts like...
Many years ago, back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, I had the privilege of working with two older gentleman in Charleston, South Carolina. Their forte was antique restoration as well as creating reproductions of the same. They went by the names of Jim and Bob,...
Looking back over our recent articles, we thought we’d celebrate some great ideas, hot tips, and super stories from our Finishing Experts. Read, learn and enjoy! 1.Glen Huey on Shellac: The lack of respect for shellac may be due to the fact that it, a natural resin,...
You can use architect’s pencils to test for finish hardness (scratch resistance). The lead in these pencils is rated from about 6 or 7B, the softest, to 6 or 7H, the hardest. HB is in the middle. You don’t need to buy all these pencils, just the middle five or six,...
Conversion varnish, also called catalyzed varnish, is the most protective and durable finish commonly available to amateurs and small shops. In industry it is often used on office furniture and kitchen cabinets. The finish is supplied in two parts: the finish itself,...
Here’s a way to operate a turbine without having to turn the turbine on and off between spraying steps. It’s best to have the turbine a little distance from the spray area, so here’s a really efficient and easy solution: plug the turbine into a remote control like the...
