For shellac finish users, good news: Shellac flakes have become more plentiful. Even those familiar with shellac may not know that it starts out as a crusty protective coating secreted on tree ...

Next time you’re working on a project that needs a durable wood finish, don’t grab the polyurethane. Follow [Victor Ola’s] advice and raid your grandparent’s record cabinet for some old 78 records.

My buddy Chuck called me the other day and asked me to help out with a project. His wife, Kate, had lost her mother earlier in the year. When her mom’s estate was divided up, Kate got her mom’s Singer ...

To enhance and protect the natural beauty of wood, nothing compares with a clear finish. Clear finishes bring out texture and natural grain while sealing the wood against stains, moisture and dirt.

My old cottage has bead board in the upstairs bedrooms that has been varnished. It looks very nice, but some of the varnish has bubbled. How can I get rid of that bubbling? A. First, check to see if ...

Next time you’re working on a project that needs a durable wood finish, don’t grab the polyurethane. Follow [Victor Ola’s] advice and raid your grandparent’s record cabinet for some old 78 records.

Rotten stone is an old-school powdered rubbing compound made from finely ground limestone. Finer than pumice powder, rotten stone can be used to achieve a glass-like high-gloss shine on lacquer or ...

Touch-up. When removing glue squeeze-out, sand with the grain using P220-grit sandpaper. Keep the block flat against the work to avoid rounding over an edge. Shield adjacent surfaces with a wide ...

Wood floors need a sealer to protect new wood when it’s installed, and again years later after resanding. Finishes like shellac, lacquer and linseed oil don’t qualify even though they’re great on ...