Dear James: I recently bought an older house. It has beautiful cherry woodwork that needs to be refinished. I have heard about a French-polish finish. Is this a good finish to use and how do I do it? ...

For shellac finish users, good news: Shellac flakes have become more plentiful. Even those familiar with shellac may not know that it starts out as a crusty protective coating secreted on tree ...

To enhance and protect the natural beauty of wood, nothing compares with a clear finish. Clear finishes bring out texture and natural grain while sealing the wood against stains, moisture and dirt.

My old cottage has bead board in the upstairs bedrooms that has been varnished. It looks very nice, but some of the varnish has bubbled. How can I get rid of that bubbling? A. First, check to see if ...

Touch-up. When removing glue squeeze-out, sand with the grain using P220-grit sandpaper. Keep the block flat against the work to avoid rounding over an edge. Shield adjacent surfaces with a wide ...

I can tell you with certainty that retirement is one of those words known as an oxymoron. When one thinks of retirement, one conjures up mental images of golfing daily, traveling the world, and ...

Shellac could be making a comeback. It was shoved aside more than 50 years ago in favor of more durable and synthetic wood finishes. But as more consumers are demanding natural products, they’re ...