Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish

by Bob Flexner

For more than 18 years, Bob Flexner has been inspiring woodworkers with his writings and teachings on wood finishing. Now, from this best-selling author comes the long-awaited and completely updated second edition of UNDERSTANDING WOOD FINISHING-the most practical, comprehensive book on finishing ever published. The first edition of UNDERSTANDING WOOD FINISHING has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and is widely regarded as the bible of wood finishing. "We use UNDERSTANDING WOOD FINISHING as the textbook for our students training to go into the furniture industry," says David Miles, wood technology professor at Pittsburg State University. "It's the best written, most accurate, and most thorough wood finishing book in print-by far."

Genres: Woodwork, Reference, Nonfiction, How To, Construction, Home Improvement, Design

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2016

Reviews

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5; 5 stars; A

In the introduction Bob Flexner states that he originally wrote this book because there is so much confusing information out there about finishing wood. He spent a lot of time researching the chemistry of products on the market, going to educational seminars, and applying his knowledge. I was hooked right from the beginning because I too have have tried to make sense of the shelves and shelves of wood finishing products with instructions which all seem to contradict each other. I have a substantial amount of oak cabinetry which is due for re-finishing as well as some furniture and really don't want to mess it up.
This book is incredibly informative and easy to read. I am listing the chapter headings because that is probably the best way for anyone reading this review to decide if the book contains what they need:
Chapter 1: Why Finish Wood, Anyway (sanitation, stabilization, decoration)
Chapter 2: Preparing the Wood Surface ( extensive info on sanding, cleaning up mistakes)
Chapter 3: Tools for Applying Finishes
Chapter 4: Staining Wood (guide to stains, dyes, bleaching, common problems and solutions)
Chapter 5: Oil Finishes
Chapter 6: Wax Finishes
Chapter 7: Filling the Pores
Chapter 8: Introduction to Film Finishes
Chapter 9: Shellac
Chapter 10: Lacquer
Chapter 11: Varnish
Chapter 12: Two part Finishes (catalyzed finishes)
Chapter 13: Water based Finishes
Chapter 14: Choosing a Finish
Chapter 15: Advanced Coloring Techniques
Chapter 16 Finishing the Finish
Chapter 17: Finishing Different Woods
Chapter 18: Caring for the Finish
Chapter 19: Repairing Finishes
Chapter 20: Exterior Finishes
Chapter 21: Removing Finishes

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best of the books on finishing, it's only slight downfall is that finish manufactures reformulate and repackage their products with great abandon, so some of the products have changed or don't exist.

There is now a third edition published in 2021, this is the one you want since it has the current names and manufacturer's information.

[Koen Crolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent overview of the various finishes available at a typical North American big-box store and how they work. There's not really anything here you won't soon pick up through osmosis if you spend any time at all interacting with woodworking communities, but that's largely because of how influential this book has been anyway.
Flexner doesn't really have a sense of how finishes are used elsewhere in the world or before the late 19th century, is bizarrely bad at using oils to the point that it unfairly biases him against them and leads him to make some deeply indefensible statements (including that oil—specifically Watco Danish Oil—can't harden wood because by itself it cures softer than wood), and repeats a couple of common myths (most prominently the particularly shitty one that all finishes are food-safe once they're cured; he even has the gall to call the correct notion that it isn't true a common myth), but if you just want to make your garage project look okay without having to order anything online, there are certainly worse places to start than this book.

[High Plains Library District · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is basically the Bible of wood finishing. Most of the time, if you see an article on finishing in Fine Woodworking or another publication, it's by Bob Flexner, because he's the master.

I consider it more of a reference book than a cover-to cover read, and it's handy to get out anytime you're trying a new finish. There's helpful tips on all kinds of application methods and types, the strengths and weaknesses of each, and info about coloring wood. Perhaps my favorite is the troubleshooting section with tables of what to do with various problems, and I also like the tests for figuring out what is on something you're refinishing as well.

This is a reprint of an earlier edition, and I'll urge you to get the newer one. The newer one has more color and more pictures, which is vital for a book on finishing. I went out and bought the newer one because my (free) older edition paled in comparison!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive, a great book to own as you want to be able to read through it front to back but also have the opportunity to reference again later on.

For some reason I found some techniques described in here less memorable than same methods as listed in The Furniture Doctor by Grotz - I know the intentions of the books are not the same, the scope of each is different too. Tone is very different. Best thing to do I think would be to own both!

[Robert Joslin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first foundthis book, it was more out of curiosity than seeking knowledge that led me to readit. I am pleasantly surprised at the knowledge gained in chosing a finish, protections, care, maintenance, and even stripping. This is a book worth having in your library if you do any sort of woodworking or restoring.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent information

The author knows his stuff because he has done the testing and research that we don't have the time or inclination to do. He dispels some of the myths and mysteries of finishes and wood and makes it all easy to understand. Highly recommended.

[Adam Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give it six stars if I could. Incredibly informative as Flexner covers just about any question or issue that could arise while finishing a project. It is one of a dozen books keep handy near my bench as a reference.

[Justin Sacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! A book that explains the chemistry of the products I buy and use in my hobby. (Ingredients aren’t actually listed on many products.) Highly useful!

[Curtis Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great definitive guidebook.

If I could remember 1% of this book, I'd be an expert like these guys:

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A plethora of valuable information. Simplified for all to understand. Pretty much the wood refinishing Bible!

[Jeff Ammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for teaching and debugging wood finishing. I can see why it's so highly regarded.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very helpful book for finishing woodworking products. It cuts through a lot of misinformation that's out there, as well as deceptive marketing from finish manufacturers.

[Macy Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIRE

[Dave Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first edition of this book that came out in 1994, & this edition is even better. I love how he goes through & explains how various types of finishes actually work, & meanwhile debunking many manufacturer's marketing claims (some of which are outright lies) about the performance of their products. For example, did you know that some cans of so-called "tung oil" actually contain zero, zilch, nada tung oil? And that "Danish Oil" is just an overpriced wiping varnish that you can make yourself for less money? Or that so-called "wood conditioner" is not needed most of the time? Wood does not need "conditioning" before finishing. Depending on the wood & the type of effect you hope to achieve, you may need to seal the wood before staining, but I personally prefer to seal with super blonde shellac. I also like how he debunks the myth of so-called "food-safe" finishes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who plans to take up any finishing or refinishing project.

[Cory M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this book cover to cover and found it not only fascinating (yup, I'm a nerd), but also necessary if you have any hope to finish wood. It is simply too confusing a topic with too much misinformation to be able to do it without the help of an expert.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new stainer, I found this incredibly informative and interesting. (Note that I mostly only read the sections on wood prep, stains, staining, and finish + application techniques.)

[Tim Hagerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bible for wood finishing.

[Jeff Beland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know about a perfect finish, but after reading this my project looks a lot better than they used to