A great wood stain does double duty. First, it adds to the aesthetics, either by enhancing the natural grain pattern of the wood or by covering blemishes, depending on the stain you choose. Second, it ...

When it comes to applying a finish to wood, most do-it-yourselfers automatically reach for a can of polyurethane varnish. Polyurethane is an ideal choice for many projects, because it produces a hard ...

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? ...

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, ...