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....
The easiest way to ebonize wood is with black dye. Unlike pigment, which is the colorant used in paint and most common stains, dye is transparent so you can apply as much as you want and still see through it. You can get wood totally black using a black dye and still...
The standard procedure for cleaning a varnish brush is to rinse in mineral spirits and then wash with soap and water. The problem is the large number of times you have to wash to achieve a good lather, which indicates the bristles are clean. You can speed the cleaning...
Water-based finishes have no color. They may appear white in the can, but when dry on the wood, they don’t have the yellow/orange coloring common to most solvent-based finishes. Nor do water-based finishes yellow over time as do most solvent-based finishes. This can...
The standard procedure for cleaning a varnish brush is to rinse in mineral spirits and then wash with soap and water. The problem is the large number of times you have to wash to achieve a good lather, which indicates the bristles are clean. You can speed the cleaning...
Water-based stains and finishes raise wood fibers making the wood’s surface feel rough. The usual procedure recommended to avoid this grain raising is to pre-raise the grain by wetting the wood and then sanding smooth after the wood has dried. But this is time...
