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Tips > Finishing

Finishing

Finish on Tap
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, October 20, 2009
I buy varnish by the gallon because it’s more economical, but after a few uses, the rim fills with gunk and the finish begins to skin over inside the can. As a result, I usually have to throw the can away before it’s empty. I solved this problem...
Freshness Date for Finish
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I never thought about the risks of using finish from an old, previously opened can until I had to entirely strip a project because the ancient varnish I used didn’t dry properly. Now I play it safe. I date every can when I first open it, so I know...
12 Finishing Tips
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Good finishers have lots of tricks up their sleeves. Here's a handful from Bob Flexner, one of the nation's foremost experts. By Bob Flexner Add Depth by Glazing Glazing accentuates the three-dimensional look of moldings, carvings, turnings, and...
Thick-Skinned varnish
by Tim Johnson Wednesday, February 25, 2009
One thing you can count on when you save a half-used can of varnish is that the contents will be skinned-over the next time you open the can. When this happens, don't gnash your teeth; the varnish underneath the skin should be just fine. Before you...
Tidy Stripping
by AW-Editor Thursday, January 29, 2009
When stripping a chair or table, place each leg in a coffee can. Any excess stripper drips right in, and when you take off the finish, you can simply push your scraper down the length of the leg. This also works when applying runny stains.
Flexible Spray Gun Pickup Tube
by AW-Editor Monday, September 1, 2008
My HVLP spray gun came equipped with a standard metal fluid-pickup tube. It works fine until I tip my gun to get inside a cabinet. Then the gun sputters and spits because the pickup tube is no longer in the finish. I mentioned this problem to a buddy...

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