In the final chapter of the cabinet building series, learn how to build cabinet bases, create 3-way miter joints, and apply a ...

Q. This week: I was interested in the column you did a few weeks ago about applying varnish to a tabletop. Usually, painters recommend that varnish be applied with the best quality brush available, ...

Varnish protects and beautifies wood grain furniture, but it's difficult to apply without getting streaks or drip marks. Start with a high-quality natural bristle brush and you're halfway to a smooth ...

Q. I have an unfinished birch bed set. How can I stain and finish it? Can I use the new varnish stains? — P.S.A. The old varnish stains of 40 years ago were terrible. No doubt they have improved since ...

Why Won't the Varnish Dry? Whether you are building a piece of furniture from scratch or completing a renovation project, the varnish coat usually marks the end of the job. For a beautiful result, the ...

It is safest to use an oil-based polyurethane varnish on an old finish; the new water-based polyurethanes may not be compatible with old oil-based finishes. And, if the old finish is shellac, new ...