You have a great design and excellent joinery, but you need more from your woodworking projects. The hard part of building a project is just half the job. Finishing the piece is another part of the job. And for many woodworkers the finishing portion of the job constitutes much more than 50 percent of the job (maybe as high as 75 or 80 percent). This is why so many projects are finished with either wipe-on polyurethane, or an oil/varnish combination.
These aren’t terrible finishes. There are projects and pieces of furniture that require a clear or semi-clear finish , think inlay, contemporary design or mixed hardwoods. Ive used an oil/varnish blend on many pieces throughout the years. These finishes can be a distraction from the potential finished look of the project. You can see the wood grain. You may also highlight the wood’s interesting features. You won’t often be able to blend your projects with antiques and other stained furniture.
Most people believe that other finishing methods than wipe-on are too difficult. I disagree. Since the day I hung out my shingle to earn a living while working with wood, Ive used the same finishing method and the results speak for themselves. My finish on Tiger maple was the reason why they first approached me so many years back.
My favorite methods are available for free on our website in Finishing Formulas (click here).
And right now, were putting the finishing touches (ha ha) on Finishes that Pop, a show-and-tell DVD on exactly the same finishing method that I use on my furniture , pieces youve seen in the pages of and in my books. On it, I discuss project preparation, shellac, glaze and more. Enjoy the story. Look out for the DVD in September 2009.
