Finishes and Finishing
Don't be intimidated by the finishing process. We'll guide you to the right finish for your project—polyurethane, lacquer, shellac, and more—and show you how to get picture-perfect, repeatable results.
When it's time to apply a knockout finish, there are a lot of contenders. Some can take a punch; some bounce back fast. Here's how to choose the one that's a fair match for your project.
Quilted maple and other figured woods gain depth as well as brilliant color when you choose this type of stain. Here's everything you need to know for success.
Even open-grained oak can be smooth as glass when you plug those pesky pores.
A high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) spray gun makes applying a finish easier than ever. Follow these simple procedures and keep that gun performing like new for years to come.
My projects sometimes have nicks that need to be filled. I’ve heard a little bit about a burnin technique. How difficult is that skill to learn?
The makers of a lot of wood finishing products describe how they “nourish the wood” or “replace natural oils.” Are these accurate statements or hokum?
In issue 155, page 112, you talked about polyurethane glues. Once the foam dries and you chisel it off, does the glue prevent the wood from absorbing stain?
I finished my workbench top with several applications of Watco Danish Oil, top and bottom. I know it periodically will need re-oiling. Should I re-oil the bottom, too?
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