Finishes and Finishing Techniques

A good finish can make a mediocre job look great; a bad finish will make a perfect piece of woodworking seem lifeless. In these 40 articles from Fine Woodworking magazine, you'll learn about five broad topics: basic finishing techniques, using major categories of finishes, special finishes, new finishing materials and solving finishing problems.

Also see: More Finishes and Finishing Techniques

Introduction

Chemical Hazards of Woodworking

Evaluating Wood Finishes

Protecting Wood from Humidity

Wood Stains

Aniline Dyes

Unlocking Cherry's Colors

Old-Fashioned Wood Coloring

Filling the Grain

Polyurethane Finishes

Versatile Varnish

Water-Based Varnishes

Shellac Finishing

An Oil and Varnish Finish

Finishing with Oil

Rubbing Out a Finish

Demystifying Wax

French Polishing

The Finish Crack'd

Gel Stains

A Professioinal's Gel Techniques

Opaque Lacquers

Japanese Lacquer

Hydrocote: A Water-Base Lacquer

Fixing Fish Eye

Shading, Glazing and Toning

Reviving Period Hardware

Compressed-Air Systems

Improvising a Spray Booth

Spray Finishing

Clearing the Air

Marbleizing Wood

Ebonizing Wood

Stenciling a Boston Rocker

Driftwood Finishes

Creating a Limed Finish

Creating a Decorative Filled Finish

Pennsy Painted Chests

Painting Furniture

Painted Carvings

Index

Shortly after I realized it would take a lifetime to master woodworking, I discovered that another lifetime would be required to learn what I needed to know about finishing. Wood finishing is an alchemical combination of science, craft and art, and as such, is often a source of confusion for the average woodworker.

If the truth be told, most of us don't worry about finishing until it's time to do it -- and then we have plenty to worry about, such as which finish to use, how to apply it and what effect it will have on the project that's taken countless hours to build. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to these questions. Each type of finish has certain advantages and disadvantages, and to choose the right one for a given project you need the experience of someone who has done more than just read the manufacturer's instructions on the can.

The 40 articles in thsi book, collected from back issues of Fine Woodworking magazine, were written by people who understand finishing. They know about the tools and methods for applying the finish; the relative strengths and weaknesses of various compounds, including their hazards; how to prepare the wood for finishing; how to handle tints, dyes and stains to achieve special effects; and how to rub out the finish to the luster that's right for your prized project.

It might be too late for you and me to devote our lives to mastering the art of finishing, but it's not too late to learn from those who have.

-- Jim Boesel, executive editor