Updated: April 22, 2026 Over the past several years — and amid ongoing shifts in environmental policy and regulatory emphasis — I’ve been reflecting on the role our industry plays in shaping both environmental outcomes and the built spaces we’re responsible for finishing. In that time, the conversation has moved well beyond “green” as a […]
Earth Day Contemplation Read More »
Wood finishers and wood coating makers often throw around the word “urethane” like it’s a single, uniform thing. It’s not. The word urethane is really just an umbrella term. What lives under that umbrella is the type of “poly” chain built into the chemistry and it determines how your finish will perform over time. There
Why the “Poly” Matters in Your Urethane Read More »
As wood finishers, we sit at the intersection of craft, design, and material performance. So, as we start 2026, let’s look at some interior design and architectural trends that may likely influence choices in stains, clear coats, textures, and of course, color. For this outlook, we drew upon several sources, including color forecasts, interior design
2026 Wood Finishing Trends: What Every Finisher Should Know Read More »
Updated: December 2025 Each year as we transition from fall to winter we usually receive a fresh batch of calls and emails about concerns related to cold-weather applications. So, now is a great time to remind everyone that water-based coatings are typically more sensitive to cold weather than oil- or solvent-based coatings and extra attention
Working with Water Based Wood Finishes in Cold Weather Months Read More »
Updated December 2025 A Personal Note from Jeff Weiss Back in October 2024, you may have read about Target Coatings launching a new brand called EMCAT+®. At the time, maybe your reaction was, “Hey, this stuff sounds cool, but what the heck are they talking about?” Well, not wanting to be accused of overselling my
EMCAT+ Now Available to Everyone Read More »
UPDATED: November 2025 You have probably noticed the trending popularity of the “natural wood look” or “raw wood finish,” where the final result is a beautiful piece of furniture that looks as if it is raw wood without a single coat of finish. The challenge is, even an ultra-clear coating or lacquer on light woods
5 Steps to Create a Natural Wood Look for Your Next Woodworking Project Read More »
Updated: October 2025 As a finisher with regular contact with potentially hazardous chemicals, I hope you question the wood finishing safety differences between water based coatings and their traditional solvent based counterparts, particularly concerning their performance and their impact on your health and the environment. In my earlier years, I underestimated the significance of these
Navigating Health and Safety When Wood Finishing: A Practical Guide Read More »
Whether you are a seasoned professional or a dedicated DIY finisher, achieving a flawless kitchen cabinet finish requires more than just the right spray equipment. Kitchen cabinetry—and other interior woodwork—faces daily exposure to heat, moisture, grease, and frequent cleaning. Choosing the right finishing system is critical to ensuring both beauty and durability. In the following
How to Achieve a Flawless Finish on Kitchen Cabinets Read More »
UPDATED: June 2025 As we start to transition into late spring and summer, now is a good time to talk about the potential challenges of wood finishing in warm weather. As we have discussed in a previous article about wood finishing in cold temperatures, wood coatings can be sensitive to environmental conditions and therefore different
Wood Finishing in Warm Weather Read More »
UPDATED: May 2025 I’m guessing you’re no stranger to searching Google for occasional help when using water based wood finishes. To be sure, there is a lot of great information on the Web. But there is also a lot of MIS-information. Even from so-called “experts.” At best, their statements are “mostly right” (in specific situations).
The Top-5 Water Based Wood Finishing Myths…BUSTED! Read More »
