If you had to.....

[Woody2Shoes]

Pick one single reference book on finishing tools/materials/techniques which would it be, and why? (birthday cash burning hole in pocket)...

Thanks in advance, W2S

 

[marcros]

i would use the forum. Search posts and ask questions.

There are some good books out there, but a lot of them use american products (often not readily available here), and/or american techniques, (sometimes dont suit my taste). I have a jeff jowett one which i like, but i have learned more from the forum than is within this book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Illus ... 1627107673. It is a good general background, but i dont know that it is worth £24.

Personally, I would learn by experience. When you make a project, decide what finish you are going to use and research how to apply it. When you make a second project, first consider whether the first finish that you bought is suitable for it! Limiting the number of finishes that you use will save having half bottles of a dozen products slowly going off.

Sorry, that doesn't answer your question at all, but...

 

[custard]

Bob Flexner's "Understanding Wood Finishing" or Frederick Oughton's "Complete Manual of Finishing" are often given as good single volume sources. But finishing is fashion and they're just the products of their times, so both look pretty dated compared to genuinely contemporary finishing work. Other issues are that in Oughton's day safety around chemicals was less of an issue, and Flexner uses American brands that aren't available in the UK. Another huge failing with finishing books generally is that they try and tell a good news story, where all finishes have a happy ending. In truth finishing is the most heavily compromised area of woodworking, no finish comes even close to being perfect, most are just barely acceptable, the sooner you realise that essential truth the sooner you can start to finish effectively!

For most hobbyist and small professional furniture makers all that's really needed is a small selection of two or three simple finishing techniques. Basic french polishing (even if it's just a 1/2 lb cut on the interiors of cabinets), Danish Oil or Osmo, a water based pu varnish, some water based aniline dye stains, some grain filler, and a couple of waxes. That would cover the vast majority of most people's finishing needs and it's all so simple that no books are needed, just follow the instructions on the tin!

Once you go beyond that things quickly start to get complicated, and before you know it you've fallen down a woodworking rabbit hole! Given all the specialist branches of finishing, from antique restoration to musical instruments to commercial spraying to exterior work etc, etc, you'll never know it all. A better starting position is to be very clear about what it is that you specifically want to finish, then take it from there.

Good luck!

 

[ED65]

Sorry, there just isn't one I'd pick.

If you want a recommendation for a good ground-up reference then Flexner's "Wood Finishing 101" could be the best introduction to the subject. It might seem a little basic to begin with but it has lots of useful details sprinkled through the text that clarify or debunk things you'll have picked up in mags and online and will give you a proper understanding of the way that finishes actually work and interact with wood. It's not the one and only finishing book you'd ever want more than likely though, unless you're happy to keep things very simple and just use a few key finishes forever (which there's a lot to be said for).

But particularly if you ever wanted to get into shellac in a big way you'd probably appreciate reading a few of the (many) books on French polishing to get a thorough grounding in the subject.

Since you probably won't want to buy all those books it leads on to the subject of libraries. You might be lucky and find that "Wood Finishing 101" is available from your library, it is in mine. So instead of buying a book how about using the money to pick up some shellac in dry form and meths, and maybe a bit of carnauba if you're into waxing your stuff?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

http://www.waterstonesmarketplace.com/b ... &hs=Submit
Here's one of them.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Thanks all, I have always considered it a bit of a black art. I've really only used varnish and/or beeswax before. I'm going to have a go at french polishing and see if I can build up some expertise with shellac. Cheers, W2S

 

[ED65]

Thanks all, I have always considered it a bit of a black art.

Many do. It isn't helped by some published writing making it sound much more difficult than it really is and more work than it can be. Older guides are particularly guilty of this obviously, although more recent stuff can be too. But particularly for the leisure woodworker it doesn't have to be at all complex or complicated.

Even French polishing, that most famously arcane finish, can be made simpler and more straightforward if you strip away layers of mystique and "must-dos" and "can't-dos" (some of which are dogma, a few are nonsense) and boil it down to the basic processes: seal, build, perfect and/or polish. All three of those steps can be done multiple ways with zero effect on the final outcome.

I'm going to have a go at french polishing and see if I can build up some expertise with shellac. Cheers, W2S

If you buy the occasional old tool at a car boot I highly recommend practising on the handles. They make a great small palette to work on and you can take it all the way to a fully built up glossy surface without it taking an age. The sheen can subsequently be cut back with steel wool, worn abrasive paper and some other options if you don't like shiny handles.