Customer Reviews

Foolproof Wood Finishing: For Those Who Love to Build and Hate to Finish

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This would be a very good choice for someone looking for a comprehensive introduction to how to prep, stain, and finish furniture. There is a real wealth of information and it is presented very clearly.

But for all the info on furniture finishing, I was disappointed by the coverage of other basic woodworking projects. For example, there's nothing about what finishes are safe for cutting boards, wooden bowls, or children's toys. And I would have welcomed something that talked specifically about finishes for shop furniture. There also is nothing on spray finishes, which is mildly frustrating given that the author mentions how much more convenient they are than the brush-on and wipe-on finishes she does cover.

I also found the author's style a little distracting. A bit heavy on the exclamation points and the quotation marks and the folksy stories. Not a big deal, really, but it detracted from my enjoyment in reading it somewhat.

It's an outstanding book for a slightly different reader than me. If I had it to do over, I'd get another one instead.

Don't let the low price fool you. This is very complete book on finishing. Every step is covered from sanding to putting on the top coat. If you purchase only one book on how to finish wood this is the one to own and read. In my view the only thing better than this book is to take one of the authors classes.

I recently took a one week finishing course at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine given by the author, Teri Masaschi. This book closely followed the course. The author is very knowledgeable and has a great deal of experience. Neither the book nor the course will make you a Master finisher overnight but it will provide a lot of information and product sources to improve your finishing skills. If you are the kind of person who has difficulty picking up skills from a book alone then I recommend taking a course with the author. She can take you very calmly through the various steps of proper finishing and allay much of the fear and trepidation that many woodworkers have about finishing (aka screwing up a lot of good woodworking at the last step of the creative process). On the other hand, if you are willing to experiment a little with the various techniques on practice boards and find out what works best for you and especially if you are not heavily invested emotionally in the final product( e.g., stripping and refinishing an existing piece of furniture) then this book alone could definitely meet your needs. Just bear in mind that the techniques require some practice and experimentation before committing them to any piece of good furniture and especially not a priceless heirloom. Also, while the methods she recommends will provide a superior result, most of the products are not cheap nor readily available except by mail order. That's not her fault, of course, but you should be prepared to invest both time and money if you want to become really good at finishing furniture. Isn't that just the way life is, though?

This is a wonderful book that demonstrates various techniques for finishing your work. The processes and photos clearly lay out the steps required. Highly recommended for those who want new ideas for finishing projects.

This book along with Bob Flexner's book saved a 3 month project. If you have never finished a large expensive project before, this is mandatory reading. My first piece was a queen bed, Stickley style, out of cherry. Thanks to them it turned out beautiful.

I THINK IT IS A PREETY GOOD BOOK. IT HAS LOTS OF INFORMATIVE INFO. I KNOW OF THE AUTHOR"S OTHER WORK AND ARTICLES IN WOODWORKING MAGAZINES.

This is a really good book on finishing. I rented this from the library as well as 3 others on finishing. This one is by far the best one I've seen anywhere so I went ahead and bought it rather than renting it again. Highly recommend if you're doing any type of stain work. Almost foolproof instructions, and lots of pictures. Good book to have!

I thought the title was appropriate for my needs. My finishing work has always been polyurethane and this book has really explained the pros and cons of the different approaches to take and why! There are lots of photos and the book is easy to read. It's a great book to have on hand prior to some projects.

FOOLPROOF WOOD FINISHING FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO BUILD & HATE TO FINISH takes a different approach than most wood refinishing guides, using the author's years of experience in the field to tell how to determine best finishes, prepare wood, avoid uneven results, and color wood for the most professional appearance - all with a minimum of time and fuss. Over 20 'recipes' for creating antique and authentic finishing looks, from cherry to mahogany, are included in a how-to title highly recommended for any homeowner's library.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch