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Like Kleenex, which is just one brand in the tissue category, some finishing products are known just by their brand name, not by what they are. This leaves room for misunderstanding. Watco, [...]

Can sanding with very fine-grit sandpaper closes the pores of wood? Bob Flexner investigates this long-standing claim.

Bob Flexner reveals the ingredients behind this popular, non-so-secret finishing formula.

If you've never put brush to bare wood (or you'd like a refresher), learn how to greatly improve your chances of success.

If you follow this blog, you may be aware that I’m fascinated by smart coatings and coatings that perform tasks you would never expect.

A newly-installed oak floor finished with oil-based polyurethane wouldn't dry. Bob Flexner explains why, and how to avoid this finishing conundrum.

Bob Flexner explains how to repair sun damage on exterior doors and offers some tips on how to find finishes with UV protection.

Bob Flexner provides a short explanation of lacquer thinner; its components, its use, and how this product can vary depending on what state you're in.

Winter is fast approaching, and it may be that your shop or garage is not warm enough for finishes to dry in a reasonable time. Bob Flexner has the answer.

You may have seen some of my complaints directed at Minwax and General Finishes for listing “aliphatic hydrocarbons” as an ingredient on some of their products rather than the more common [...]

A professional woodworker got in touch with this question. He had finished a sixty-foot long countertop for a brewery tasting room with catalyzed (conversion) varnish. After the finish dried for...

I’ve enjoyed building Arts & Crafts furniture for a number of years. The look of the quarter-sawn oak after finishing has always been a strong selling point – a common...