Now it's easier than ever for woodworkers to get a perfect finish on every project! This book dispels the myths about wood finishing and explains exactly how and why every finish behaves the way it does.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Given the abundance of titles on wood finishing published in 1993, librarians might be inclined to dismiss this one, which would be a definite mistake. Flexner, who has 20 years of finishing experience and has written for many woodworking magazines, assumes no experience in finishing wood. He provides comprehensive treatment of the various finishes, application techniques, chemical cautions, and reactions, convincingly overthrowing much of the conventional wisdom about finishing. His book gives readers a wood finishing consultant available whenever they need it for the price of an hour's time. Highly recommended. (Index not seen.)-- Alex Hartmann, Bloomsburg Univ. Lib., Pa.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
With its clear writing and engaging style, this is without a doubt the best researched, most authoritative, and easy-to-follow book on the subject. - Steve Shanesy, Popular Woodworking magazine editor
As professional finishers know and as amateurs will surely realize, finishing is easy once you know what you are doing. Understanding Wood Finishing makes the science of finishing understandable. - Frank Klausz, a professional cabinetmaker
We use Understanding Wood Finishing as the textbook for our students training to go ionto the furniture industry. It's the best written, most accurate, and most thorough wood finishing book in print by far. - David Miles, wood technology professor at Pittsburg State University
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
151 of 151 people found the following review helpful
By sh
Format:Paperback
A friend loaned me a copy of this book when I was trying to figure how to stain a cherry cabinet without the typical splotchy results one usually gets with this difficult-to-stain wood. This book not only addressed that problem, it gave several techniques to deal with it. Flexner even explained why different brands of stain would have different results. I was so impressed I bought my own copy. No other book I've seen does such a great job of explaining the technical aspects of how finishes work, and what protection each kind of finish provides, while keeping the text easy to follow and understand. This makes it a great book for learning about the many different stains and wood finishes.
Plus, it is more comprehensive than other wood finishing books I've seen. It explains in detail the different application techniques, when and how to use them. There are plenty of helpful illustrations, including color photo examples of different stains and finishes on various woods. So it is a great reference source when working on a particular project and trying to decide the best finish or application technique to use.
I keep looking for other books on wood finishing that would add to what is in this book. But I haven't come across any yet.
96 of 97 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a GREAT place to start your journey into wood finishing.
Bob starts by systematically explaining the logic and science behind different types of finish, including oils (varnish "oils" too, polyurethane and such), shellac, lacquer, conversion, waterbase, waxes, and more.
He also explains application methodology IN DEPTH, such as, french polishing, brushing, spraying.
He explains shaping tools (these include scrapers with sharpening methods, spokeshave devices, steel wools, rubbing compounds, sandpapers (all types)) and how to use them to achieve results.
He then goes in depth into suggestions for different woods, limited exotics and many domestics, as well as good rule of thumb's.
Main positives to this book: Mr. Flexner has given in depth and yet layman's explanations of how finishes work and the chemicals involved. This is integral to applying a good finish, in my opinion. This book could stand alone as everything a fledgling finisher needs to tackle any project.
Main negatives: Mr. Flexner is very informative and systematic. That said, he is obviously not a writer by trade. You WILL find yourself treating this as a reference book, its not a "sunday read" for the woodworking inclined. Several times (not many, but a couple) he contradicts himself (there is a passage that "debunks" the myth of better protection from thicker film build of a finish, and then later he suggests building the finish to a thicker film for "better protection...")
These negative in my opinion NO way detract from the book. It is an incredible reference tool for the amateur, and marks a necessary item for the professional finisher's bookshelf.
JTAcoustics
72 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have bought a number of books on woodworking, as well as a few on wood finishing. This is by far the best book on finishing that I have come across. The book takes all the mystery out of all the different types of finishing materials and finishing processes. The author does a great job of explaining how each type of finish works as well as why certain stains and finishes work better on different types of wood. I would recomend this book to any woodworker who has ever screwed up a project by putting on a bad finish, or any woodworker who only uses one type of finish because that is all they know. This book will take the guesswork and fear out of finishing your projects.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb book on a sometimes mysterious process
This is a great book for any woodworker. If you are a woodworker, and you read this it will increase your understanding of the myriad of finish options out there. Read more
Published 7 months ago by V R Ryan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of information
All the information you need and some. This is a really good book but can be too much information at points. I would recommend it though. I've learned a lot from it. Read more
Published 12 months ago by John Schlong
4.0 out of 5 stars
Understanding Wood Finishing (American Woodworker)
Book came in time indicated and was in the shape we expected. We would order from this supplier again if the occasion presented itself.
Published 20 months ago by Lyn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally I found it
This author knows woodworking and wood finishing. His comments about wood finishing myths and his explanations about the real chemistry of finishing wood is spot on. Read more
Published on May 1, 2010 by Bob Heim
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great reference book
Like many I am new to wood working and I know that a lot of work goes in to building or turning a project but if you don't finish it properly it is all for not. Read more
Published on January 7, 2009 by James Jernigan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Buy the Hardcover Book
I checked the hardcover version out from the library and enjoyed the detailed instructions for specific finishing techniques, as well as the general information on the types of... Read more
Published on May 18, 2008 by Patrick L. Wineman
2.0 out of 5 stars
a waste of time
a waste of time if you are actually looking for constructive finishing of a specific wood. This guy is more interested in impressing you with what he knows rather than helping you... Read more
Published on March 21, 2008 by Lynda Beach
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed - old version
I checked out a book by Bob Flexner from the library and liked it so much I wanted to buy it. But this book was NOT the same book. Read more
Published on November 4, 2007 by J. JONES
5.0 out of 5 stars
Concise, well written, comprehensive
Highly recommended. Anyone who has ever applied a finish to a piece of wood,from professional wood worker to Saturday afternoon handyman, will benefit from this book.
Published on April 10, 2007 by M. D. Putnam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, it all makes sense!
I'd read several books on refinishing (I have a craftsman house and am refinishing the built-in woodwork), and though I was learning, it all seemed like like an arbitrary... Read more
Published on May 20, 2006 by Kevin Frisch
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