Introduction
1 Your Tool Kit
Surface-preparation tools
Brushes
Rollers, pads, and foam brushes
Rags and cloths
Spray equipment
2 The Right Stuff
Wood putties and fillers
Stains
Bleaches
Paste wood fillers
Glazes and toners
Finishes
Waxes and polishes
3 Surface Preparation
Using planes and scrapers
Sanding
Checking surface preparation
Correcting defects and blemishes
4 Coloring the Wood
Preparing to stain
Pigment stains
Dye stains
Changing color
Bleaching
Color problems and their solutions
5 Filling Pores
Oil-based fillers
Water-based fillers
Getting the color right
6 Glazing, Toning, and Shading
Glazing basics
Toning and shading
7 Applying Finishes
Glazing basics
Toning and shading
Finish basics
Oil finishes
Varnish
Shellac and lacquer
Water-based finishes
Special situations
8 Rubbing Out
To rub or not to rub
Choosing materials
Thin finish rub-out
Thick finish rub-out
The satin look
The gloss look
9 Cleaning and Repair
Preventative maintenance
Cleaning and appearance maintenance
Fixing gouges and dents
Fixing scrapes and scratches
Rings and water spots
10 Specialty Finishes
Arts and crafts
Liming and pickling
Oil, shellac, and wax
Early American maple
Ebonized finish
Antique pine
Lightly distressed paint
Heavily distressed paint
Whitewash
Decorative filled-pore finish
Blond mahogany
Filled-pore mahogany
Colonial cherry
Pearled ash
Resources
Index
