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A woodworker friend called me with a problem. He had just built a bookcase and was trying to match the approximate sheen of a factory-finished piece of furniture he had and couldn’t find a [...]

Distressing or aging wood can come in many forms, whether it's a color change or physical wear. Here some tips for achieving different effects.

Our finishing expert shares some tips gained from a house-painter friend.

Even if your finish won't change color over time, many woods will. Our finishing expert Bob Flexner provides an important reminder using one of his own examples.

Sometime early in your woodworking career you probably learned that you were supposed to sand sharp edges to soften them. What you’re really trying to avoid is “fat edges” when the finish is applied.

Though it’s more work, the advantage of dissolving flakes is to ensure the shellac you use is fresh. The fresher the dissolved shellac, the quicker it hardens and the more water-resistant the [...]

If you want to refinish your kitchen cabinets with milk paint, you should take heed of this advice.

An acquaintance of mine was making a small project out of maple and he wanted it to be black. He asked if dye would do it, or should he use a different wood?

If you've never put brush to bare wood (or you'd like a refresher), learn how to greatly improve your chances of success.

Nancy Hiller demonstrates quick method she used to spiff up old trim so that it would match the original trim in the customers' house.

A newly-installed oak floor finished with oil-based polyurethane wouldn't dry. Bob Flexner explains why, and how to avoid this finishing conundrum.

Bob Flexner explains how to repair sun damage on exterior doors and offers some tips on how to find finishes with UV protection.