Wood finishing is fun and easy. We’ll take you through the wood finishing process including preparing the wood, choosing the proper applicator, and applying traditional and one-step finishes. Whether you’re planning to build or refinish furniture or bookshelves for your room, make gift items for your family, friends or a local charity, or take up woodworking as a profession, you’ll find woodworking to be a rewarding experience.

It’s a practical skill that you’ll take with you throughout life. After all, even novice woodworkers can save money by building or refinishing their own furniture, or by doing their own renovations, making woodworking a particularly important skill during challenging economic times. And, whether you’re a novice or a regular in the workshop, you can succeed in creating a professional-looking project, which is both beautiful and functional, by taking a common sense approach to woodworking. An important part of this approach is developing fundamental wood finishing skills.

Today, the secret of a fine wood finish is no secret at all. Beautiful results can be obtained easily if you prepare the wood surface to accept a finish, “troubleshoot” before application to minimize problems during the finishing process, and use high-quality wood finishing products. Always read the label directions and cautions.

Choosing the Right Wood

Look around your home. The floor may be oak or maple; the baseboard and window sills may be clear-finished pine, poplar or cherry. Kitchen cabinets could be solid or laminated, from knotty pine, oak, maple or cherry. With so many types of wood available, it’s important to learn how to recognize and evaluate basic types of woods to recognize their strengths and weaknesses.

How do you know what type of wood to use?

Before making your purchase, think about how you intend to use the wood. When choosing the actual piece of wood, check for any twists or warping. Look for splits at the ends of the board and surface defects like knots. Look for machine marks, insect holes, dents, and shipping scars. Will these defects affect how you intend to use the wood? Compare the different types of grain patterns. Try to match grain patterns in boards that will be used next to one another, since differences will become more pronounced once you brush on a coat of stain. Finally, once you’ve made your decision, be sure to measure the wood before you buy it.