Finishing

The MAGIC of card/cabinet scrapers!

Posted on August 30, 2021 at 12:37 am by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Misc. Tool Tutorials

A technique you can be proud to master!

Can you put water-based finish over an oil-based stain or finish?

Posted on July 20, 2021 at 8:41 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

This is an important tutorial! Can water-base go over oil-base? What about shellac and lacquer and wax?

Sand, Scrape or Plane? The REAL reason…

Posted on July 10, 2021 at 3:39 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Misc. Tool Tutorials, Wood & Material Tutorials

How the process makes one method better than others.

Why does my finish turn wood yellow?

Posted on July 6, 2021 at 2:28 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Wood & Material Tutorials

I explain why finishes yellow wood, and which allow the natural beauty to stand out most.

Are you PROPERLY sanding between coats of finish?

Posted on June 29, 2021 at 8:34 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

How to sand properly between coats of finish and get silky-smooth results!

The secret to a better satin/matte wood finish

Posted on May 3, 2021 at 7:10 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

Why matte finishes are more difficult to apply, and how to solve those problems.

What to do if your wood finish is ILLEGAL

Posted on April 13, 2021 at 5:53 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Other Tutorials

What to do if you can’t find the woodworking finish or solvent you need because of a restriction in your area.

Why you should try wood grain filler before your finish.

Posted on April 2, 2021 at 5:35 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Other Tutorials, Wood & Material Tutorials

How an easy to apply goop can change the way you finish wood.

The MYTH of food-safe wood finishes!

Posted on March 31, 2021 at 5:26 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

It’s all a bunch of advertising nonsense designed to sell you stuff! Here are the REAL food-safe finishes for cutting boards, bowls, etc…

Is this a BIG woodworking mistake?

Posted on March 23, 2021 at 3:30 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Vlog

To paint or not to paint? (And some other interesting stuff.)

So, you think you know how to sand, eh?

Posted on March 15, 2021 at 8:08 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Other Tutorials, Wood & Material Tutorials

FULL OF TIPS! A comprehensive tutorial on one of the most important parts of any woodworking project.

The LIES and confusion of Tung Oil Wood Finish

Posted on February 4, 2021 at 7:03 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

Sorting through the mess of contradictory information about what should be a simple subject

Stuff you should know before trying to edge band plywood

Posted on December 15, 2020 at 8:24 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Wood & Material Tutorials

Pro tips about applying iron-on edge banding that will save you a lot of frustration.

FINISHING BLUNDERS: Why wood stain comes off

Posted on December 3, 2020 at 7:09 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

A common problem with a simple solution that may just save your next project.

Figure-8 table top brackets the RIGHT WAY

Posted on November 18, 2020 at 6:04 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Furniture, Joinery

Why is there so much misinformation out there about this simple task?

Tools you DON’T need: Jointer vs Planer vs Drum sander

Posted on November 4, 2020 at 7:30 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Joinery, Misc. Tool Tutorials

Do you need all three milling machines? Just two? One? None? This video will tell you what and why.

Are you cleaning your paint brushes wrong?

Posted on September 28, 2020 at 6:42 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Quick-Tips

A tutorial for cleaning up oil-based woodworking finishes so your brushes will last longer.

Don’t buy wiping polyurethane! (How to make AND use it properly.)

Posted on August 5, 2020 at 6:12 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

Don’t waste your money on wiping poly. Here’s how to make it for a lot less, and how to use it for a great, easy finish!

Are you using the wrong kind of sanding block? What you need to know…

Posted on July 20, 2020 at 8:11 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Misc. Tool Tutorials, Wood & Material Tutorials

Rigid, semi-rigid, flexible or contoured? Learn what to use, and when to use it.

Important workbench maintenance tasks you should be doing

Posted on June 20, 2020 at 7:52 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Old-Timey Woodworking, Workshop Improvements

How to make your woodworking bench last for generations

Trace-Coat Before You Finish

Posted on February 24, 2020 at 1:33 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Quick-Tips

Identify potential problems before it’s too late.

Choosing gloves for wood finishing

Posted on February 20, 2020 at 2:10 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Quick-Tips, Shop Safety

What you don’t know CAN hurt you!

What happens if you choose the wrong woodworking solvent? (A tutorial)

Posted on January 17, 2020 at 8:44 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

Don’t worry, this tutorial will explain which solvent to use and when.

Can the wrong finish ruin a workbench?

Posted on October 24, 2019 at 6:54 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Quick-Tips

It’s a workbench, not a skating rink!

Types of Natural Oil Finishes

Posted on August 27, 2019 at 7:41 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

Do they really boil linseed oil? (And other oily answers)

What the heck is varnish and which one should you use?

Posted on August 21, 2019 at 8:32 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

Some facts and tips about different types of varnish

Hardwood edge banding

Posted on August 12, 2019 at 5:46 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Quick-Tips, Wood & Material Tutorials

Simple tips for great results! edge banding

Finishing Wooden Countertops

Posted on August 5, 2019 at 6:47 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing

A finish durable enough for a wooden countertop

What’s the RIGHT sandpaper for woodworking?

Posted on June 21, 2019 at 5:18 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Dust Collection, Finishing, Wood & Material Tutorials

How to choose what’s best for the task at hand

Why I HATE my random orbital sander (and how to fix it)

Posted on May 29, 2019 at 5:52 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Misc. Tool Tutorials, Quick-Tips

Solutions to three common problems

WARNING: Your pine boards could experience GRAIN REVERSAL!

Posted on April 15, 2019 at 6:47 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Quick-Tips, Wood & Material Tutorials

How to color and finish pine

Tips for working with epoxy

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 8:12 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Quick-Tips

Mixing epoxy and dispensing it like a pro

The best way to deal with squeeze-out

Posted on February 26, 2018 at 8:08 pm by Jim Hamiltion / Finishing, Joinery, Other Tutorials

Don’t wipe your glue!

Recent Posts

Find us on Social Media

Woodworkers Are Saying

About Company

Contact information

FREE TUTORIALS

NAVIGATION

PLANS

Find us online

Search