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Woodwork

Winter 2012

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Techniques

20 Finishing Tips
by American Woodworker Editors Monday, December 19, 2011
20 Finishing Tips Download the 20 Finishing Tips Technique with complete plans and step-by-step instructions from AWBookstore.com . 1. Make dewaxed shellac Take the wax out of shellac and you have a great sealer that’s compatible with most other...
Basic HVLP Spray Techniques
by American Woodworker Editors Monday, December 19, 2011
Basic HVLP Spray Techniques How to succeed at spraying a waterborne finish Download Basic HVLP Spray Techniques with complete plans and step-by-step instructions from AWBookstore.com . When it comes to finishing, we’re all looking for easy answers...
Aged Cherry Finish
by American Woodworker Editors Monday, December 19, 2011
Aged Cherry Finish Wipe on years of age in a few easy steps. By Tim Johnson Download this Aged Cherry Finish Technique with complete plans and step-by-step instructions from AWBookstore.com . If you want to make a woodworker gnash his teeth, ask him to...
Not-So-French Polishing
by American Woodworker Editors Monday, December 19, 2011
Not-So-French Polishing A new twist on an old method of applying shellac. By Richard Tendick Download this Not-So-French Polishing Technique with complete plans and step-by-step instructions from AWBookstore.com . You’ve spent weeks, or months producing...
Brushing Shellac
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Brushing Shellac Apply shellac like a pro. By Mitch Kohanek If you aren’t brushing shellac these days, it’s either because you’ve never tried it or you’ve had a bad experience. Let’s see if I can change that. The number one...
Repair a Water-Damaged Finish
by American Woodworker Editors Monday, October 3, 2011
Repair a Water-Damaged Finish Work miracles on wood with oxalic acid. By Kevin Southwick Download this Repair a Water-Damaged Finish Project with complete plans and step-by-step instructions from AWBookstore.com . Watering a potted plant can be disastrous...
Iron Out Those Dents
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Iron Out Those Dents Here’s a classic tip that everyone should know: It’s not hard to make a dent in wood and fortunately, it’s not hard to get one out, either. All you need is a household iron (don’t worry, it won’t get...
Tips for Finishing Cherry
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tips for Finishing Cherry Oil it, spray it, shellac it, or glaze it. This is how to make cherry look great. By Tim Johnson Cherry is gorgeous wood, but as you’ve probably discovered, it can be nasty to finish. Cherry boards come in all different...
4 Proven Finishes for Oak
by American Woodworker Editors Thursday, October 29, 2009
by Dave Munkittrick A good finish should highlight the best characteristics of the wood it goes on. I’ve put together four finish recipes that make the most of oak’s contrasting grain. The first three recipes use two different color layers...
Make New Varnish Look Old
by Tim Johnson Friday, February 20, 2009
Q. I built my own kitchen cabinets a few years back. One drawer got damaged, so I stripped the finish from the drawer front, made the repair and applied a fresh coat of polyurethane. The new finish is noticeably lighter than the old one. I sure don't...
Protect Joints Before Pre-Finishing
by Tom Caspar Friday, February 20, 2009
If you plan to finish your project prior to assembly, be sure to protect the joint surfaces first, so they don't get contaminated by stain and finish. Finishing products seal the wood and prevent glue from penetrating the wood fibers, which it must...