You know the drill: You’ve invested a lot of time designing and crafting what has the makings of one of the best pieces you’ve ever made. After finishing the entire piece, you realize all too late that some parts are lighter in color or have a different tone. Or perhaps one panel or even the …
Special Effects: Wood Toning with Water Based Wood Finish Read More »
In Part 1 of this post, we covered what wood finish shading is, why you would want to use it, how to prepare your surface, and how to prepare your finish. If you missed it, you can find it here. Today, we’ll cover the best way to prepare your spray equipment, spraying technique, and topcoat …
Okay. I get it. Wood finish shading is a special effect you won’t want to use on every project. But when you’re looking to add a bit of pizazz and punch to a piece, it can be a real game changer. I have a hunch that once you’ve read through this article and realize just …
Most of the finishes you’ll see used on wood products are film-forming. And there are several reasons for this: They meet and, in most cases, exceed the KCMA standard (how a finish performs against typical household substances and extreme temperatures)… They are highly durable… And they are quick and easy to apply using standard finishing …
When to Use a Penetrating Wood Finish Instead of a Film-Forming Finish Read More »
In Part 1 of this article, we covered the definition, importance, and measurement of wet film thickness. Today, we’ll do the same for dry film thickness. As important as wet film thickness is, “the total thickness of the film finish when dry” is equally important. This (in bold) is the definition of dry film thickness. Simply …
Dry Film Thickness: Improving Water Based Film Finish Quality and Performance Read More »
There are several factors that influence the quality and performance of water based polyurethane and water based lacquer film finishes, including: Surface preparation… Finishing products… Application equipment… Environment (temperature & relative humidity)… And of course, knowledge and technique. An important part of knowledge and technique is knowing and applying the optimal thickness of finish to …
A hand or power tool is an investment that can last many years when properly maintained. I assume caring for your tools is a ritual you follow, but what about your spray equipment? This seems to be a stumbling block for some folks, because over the past 35 years of crawling through finishing shops, I …
My Wood Finishing Troubleshooting Cheat Sheet: Spray Gun Maintenance Read More »
‘Tis the season for giving, so today I thought we could exchange some ideas on the best wood finishing gifts you ever received…or gave. Feel free to think outside the box. It could be a tool or piece of equipment… Or simply a piece of great advice. Here’s are a few of my best wood …
The Best Wood Finishing Gifts You Ever Received…or Gave Read More »
I think you’re going to like today’s topic, even if it’s not a technical, wood finishing “tip.” Given Labor Day is coming up and we’re honoring workers and workmanship… What I’d love to talk about is… How YOU got your start in wood finishing. Look, we all know woodworking and finishing isn’t easy – it …
If you’re reading this, you probably do most or all of your wood finishing. But there’s also a good chance (due to workload, scheduling, etc.,) you may need to find a good wood finisher you can rely on from time to time. The challenge is, trusting your work (and deadlines) to someone else isn’t easy. …
How to Find a Good Wood Finisher When You Need One Read More »
