Updated January 2026 | Side-by-side tests on red oak, white oak, walnut, and mahogany I tested the same finish on four boards – two with...

The $12 Insurance Policy You’ve spent weeks building a project. The wood cost $300. The hardware cost another $75. You’ve invested forty hours of careful...

Updated January 2026 | Tested on Eastern white pine, sugar pine, and Ponderosa pine Mistake I Made: My first pine bookshelf looked like it had...

Updated January 2026 | Tested on red oak, white ash, and hard maple Skip this step and you will feel every raised fiber through your...

The Difference Between Good and Flawless You’ve applied your first coat of finish. It looks good. You’re tempted to add another coat and call it...

I spent probably my first two years of finishing using nothing but spray cans and disposable brushes because the idea of actually learning proper brush...

Choosing a wood finish has gotten complicated with all the options flying around at the hardware store. As someone who ruined more projects than I...

Choosing a finish application method has gotten complicated with all the gear reviews and conflicting opinions flying around. As someone who’s brushed, wiped, sprayed, and...

Mixing custom stain colors sounds intimidating, but it’s simpler than most woodworkers expect. Here’s a quick primer on getting exactly the color you want. Start...

Dealing with dust nibs in finishes has gotten complicated with all the miracle products and conflicting methods flying around. As someone who’s battled dust in...