Aerosol Finishing: Here Are the Basics
A finishing topic that gets far too little coverage is aerosol finishing. Aerosols are widely available in four common finishes: lacquer, oil-based polyurethane, water-based finish and shellac. [...]
A cradle for a Combination Square
An accurate combination square is the cornerstone of every layout work. It allows us to measure and mark joinery, and check for flatness and squareness of workpieces, setups and tools. I have a [...]
The Problem of Sanding Scratches Showing Through a French Polish Finish.
Here’s a situation you may have experienced if you do much French polishing. A woodworker friend emailed me with this problem. He had been French polishing a tabletop, and no matter what he did, [...]
Watco Danish Oil Problem: A Strange One
A woodworker friend emailed me with a problem. He had turned a face-grained bowl from what he described as “grainy” walnut. To finish it he was using Watco Danish Oil, and his problem was that [...]
A Chisel Rack for a Peg Board Tool Cabinet, Part 3
Read part 1 here and read part 2 here. As the design and construction of the rack was completed (see part one of the story) and after I added the utility magnets and tried to hang the rack using [...]
Acetone: Understanding This Increasingly Available Solvent
You may have noticed that acetone is becoming more widely available. This is primarily because it’s the only commonly available solvent that is classified as an exempt VOC solvent. VOC is the [...]
Comparing Boiled Linseed Oil and 100% Tung Oil as a Finish
Boiled linseed oil and 100% tung oil are the two widely available drying oils. Though called “drying oils” both dry adequately only when applied very thin. If the excess isn’t wiped off after [...]
A Chisel Rack for a Pegboard Tool Cabinet, Part 2
Read part 1 here and read part 3 here. As I was about to finish the rack, I began contemplating what would be the best way to hang it on the pegboard. One of the most abundant pegboard hooks …
Denatured Alcohol Removal: Was This Aimed at Shellac?
When it comes to finishing products, what happens in California doesn’t stay in California. It usually spreads across the country. So when a California friend emailed to tell me that denatured [...]
Cleaning and Storing Shellac Brushes: Some Suggestions
I know that a lot of readers use shellac for finishing. Of all finishes, shellac is probably the easiest to use when it comes to cleaning and storing brushes because shellac dissolves easily in [...]
A Chisel Rack for a Pegboard Tool Cabinet, Part 1
Read part 2 here and read part 3 here. The pegboards hanging system was, and still is, one of the most common shop organizing platforms out there. It is a versatile system that is easy to [...]
Gasoline Explosion: Be Very Careful Using Gasoline
A few weeks ago my sister-in-law in Denmark got very severe burns on her lower legs from a gasoline explosion. Her friend had piled up a lot of brush and wanted to burn it. So he pored on some [...]
