The Craft of Finishing

I am practising my finishing skills. Early on as an aspiring woodworker, finishing was that thing I did at the end after ‘completing’ my piece to make it shiny and to protect it from wear and use. It has become increasingly clear to me that finishing is like sharpening, joinery, and design; it is an equal part of the craft and requires equal attention. It requires focused attention. It requires practice.

Historically, European furniture making separated the finishers from the joiners and the ébénistes (cabinetmakers). This set an education precedent to separate these skills, which certainly has its benefits. A specialist in their field can learn and do so much more than a jack of all trades. These days, the modern designer maker along with the home craftsperson needs to be all of these things.

There has been a project in the back of my mind for a while that was perfect for exploring and practising finishes. It was something that required a creative visual approach. The techniques themselves will only briefly be covered in this article. Instead, I aim to clarify