Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 01, 2004 06:50pm | #1

   Bones, there are a couple ways to go at the whole topic of finishing.  For an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of finishing, alot of people will recommend Bob Flexner's book Understanding Finishing.  My learning style did better with Jeff Jewitt's books, especially Great Wood Finishes . 

   I get lost in the details of a book like Flexner's.  Jeff's book gives me a more concise version of the same info (chemical differences between finishes, for instance), and then presents progressively more challenging options for finishing.  Also, he'll outline 2 or 3 different options to accomplish the same thing.  The section on finishing cherry is a good example.  I think he outlines 3 different options, and provides color plates to illustrate the results.

   For me, the ideal would be to have Flexner's book and a couple more of Jeff's books on the shelf.  Then, when more detail is desired, the Flexner book would provide it.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   MichaelPB | Oct 01, 2004 10:19pm | #2

   PLAY

   That is the best recomendation I can make.  The books Forestgirl recomended are excellent but nothing beats having used some stuff on various projects. 

   Practice on scraps, I often make up sanding blocks and try different finishing techniques on them.  I have turned out some UGLY sanding blocks, some look good, but I learn.

   And a dirtly little secret, I have never used shellac and have yet to get a glossy finish to turn out well enough for me to even like it.

3. 
   Alan | Oct 02, 2004 12:40am | #3

   bones,

   You've gotten great advice so far:  read AND experiment.

   My one sure and fast rule for finishing is:  there should be no surprises!  Of course this means to experiment with the actual materials you want to use on the actual wood you're finishing.

   If you're anything like me, you have little bitty pieces of whatever kind of wood you're working with, cluttering up the place.  Use these little scraps to experiment.  Believe it or don't, I've actually bought more stock when my first few experiments didn't pan out, and I had no suitable bits left.

   I save all my experiments.  I use an indelible-ink pen to write on the back of each one exactly what I did.  They make a great resource.

   Alan