Thinning Oil and Varnish: It Can Seem Confusing
Recently, I had an exchange with a friend who does woodworking as a hobby, and the exchange made me realize …
Tricking Furniture Appraisers: I Love These Stories
Maybe it’s because of the decades I spent restoring old and antique furniture, so I realize how difficult it can …
Painting Over Peeling Paint: You Must Remove it First
This is pretty basic, but here goes anyway. When you have a situation of peeling paint, you have to remove …
This Mystifies Me Every Time I See It
I’ll probably get pushback on this, but here goes anyway. I’d love to hear your objections. Look at the above …
Methylated Spirits: Is it the Best Solvent for Shellac?
A woodworker friend called wanting to know where he could buy some methylated spirits. He had just read in …
Air Movement and Heat Speed the Drying of Finishes
On Nov. 22 I posted an explanation of how cooler temperatures slow the drying of all finishes. Well, the opposite …
Why You Can’t French Polish with Polyurethane
I got a question from a woodworker about French polishing. He wanted to know why he was having so much …
Illustrating Metamerism with a Digital Camera
I can remember very frustrating times in my shop when I worked like crazy on a refinished piece of furniture …
Why There Are Streaks in Your Wood Stain
I’ve run into this problem often enough that I thought it worth discussion: People apply a stain and don’t have …
