Applying A Finish

Just as you can with wood, you can make hardware look older and more distinctive, create a custom finish, or make sure it never looks its age.

Similar in appearance to wood worn by prolonged exposure to the elements, uzukuri finish is created by rubbing a stiff brush back and forth along the wood, gradually removing the softer areas of early wood.

This rich, dark-brown finish is the one often found when you see this Arts and Crafts chair in collections.

Christopher Miano shares an ancient Japanese technique that preserves wood by charring the surface.

Rubbing out allows you to adjust the sheen of a finish, while removing imperfections like dust nibs, runs, sags, or bumps from the surface.

A wiping varnish goes on easily and creates a tough surface ready for rubbing out.

Chris Gochnour explains how to darken wood without touching it.

Elia Bizzarri shows how to layer black milk paint over red to create a rich, layered look on his Windsor chairs.

Thin layers of dye, glazes, and sealers create an aged Arts and Crafts look.

How to make a batch of shellac from fresh flakes.