Customer Reviews
thorugh, detailed, factual and yet very readable. 
2008-09-29
I'm not a pro woodworker, but a serious hobbyist who spends many weekends in his garage. I've applied finishes with cloths, brushes, spray cans, spray guns and foam brushes. I've done about 10 pieces of furniture before buying the book, and about 7-8 since I've read it.
this book is one of the best I've ever read.
first of all, it is very comprehensive, from finishes easily available at home centers to more unique ones only available at specialty retailers. it details all types of application.Bob Flexner often speaks out against popular myths about finishing, check out popularwoodworking.com, which recently published an article by him on the topic. one of the main problems in the woodworking community is that it's not always clear what is the role and effect of different chemicals and additives in finishes. in this book, he gets quite scientific -yet clear and readable- explaining what are finishes made of, how they work, how they cure, and what pros and cons they have. he bases the books on facts, tried techniques and comparative tests. very important, he speaks a lot about wash coats, or sealing coats, and such, and emphasizes what steps are important for a good finish, and what are overstated. for example, when and how much to sand before application and between coats, when to use fillers and sealers, and more.
I find some of the information critical for various reasons: first of all, I find that finish manufacturers do not give you enough information on their product, and some of the info they do provide you is simply wrong!
second, Bob Flexner takes out much of the guess work and trial and error, plus he has many pictures showing side by side different effects of different finishes, applications and so on.
I like the section were he shows some projects and demonstrates the effects on different type of wood, I wish there was more of that.
this book is entitled UNDERSTANDING wood finishes, and it does just that: giving you a well balanced understanding of all to do with wood finishes, so that you can do a better decision when it comes to finish your own project.
what this book doesn't do? it doesn't twelve too much into painting, which in my opinion is a different skill, and it is not a shortcoming.
A Breath of Fresh Air 2008-08-18
I couldn't resist the pun for the title, but it expresses my feelings about this book. I can actually say, for the first time, having read this book, that I understand the basics of finish materials themselves, how they work chemically, how they may be combined (alternatively, when they should not be), what processes each finish type is best suited to, the roles of solvents (thinners) and cleaners as well as the differences between them, sheen, dyes vs. pigment-based coloration, sealing and washcoats, finish leveling and rubout, and a score of other topics this book covers. I can tell you - precisely - the differences between evaporative, reactive, and coalescing finishes, how each builds a film, the strengths and shortcomings of each, the differences in repairability and protection, and more.
This book removes the BS factor from the horribly muddled world of commercially-available finishes, explaining along the way WHY it's as muddled as it is - reducing to history, marketing, and the role of finish manufacturers as middlemen - the finish chemists being employed not by them, but by the ingredient manufacturers. The author demolishes a lot of myths along the way, literally by listing myths and the corresponding truth in sidebars throughout the book.
There are specific topics and bits of advice that are priceless. Among them I would list the process for dyeing figured maple, pre-finish cleaning of oily woods, food-safe finishes, and a dozen or more ways to use shellac to solve problems.
I don't agree with everything in the book. I think the author is too generous to the polish manufacturers, for example, particularly as regards silicone. While he discusses fisheye and silicone issues mostly as a refinishing issue, for example, I think it is actually destructive to existing finishes due to its propensity to migrate under finishes by way of cracks and other surface flaws. I also think he comes off as a bit harsh on oil finishes, though I don't know if that was intended.
I found the book very readable. You will want to read it from beginning to end, as succeeding text builds on earlier concepts. The exception to that would be the final section, on refinishing and strippers.
Understand this book and you will be able to select and apply finishes with complete confidence. Be aware, however, that despite the title, it is not a step-by-step finishing manual. The focus is on understanding the materials.
The reference book on finishing materials 2008-06-09
Excellent book on the fundamentals of finishing wood, including detailed description of the three major categories of finishes and their characteristics. You must do some interpretation to make it work for you, as Flexner does not give extensive details and options for each wood species. Instead, he explores the functional properties of finishes, dyes, stains, fillers, etc.
Buy the Hardcover Book 
2008-05-18
I checked the hardcover version out from the library and enjoyed the detailed instructions for specific finishing techniques, as well as the general information on the types of wood finished and illustrative photos. A received the paperback version as a Christmas present only to be thoroughly disappointed that the beautiful photos had all been converted to sepia tones. That eliminated all of the detail! Save yourself the disappointment and go straight to hardcover.
Great book 2008-05-11
This book is not a list of grandma recipes, it explains wood finishes to enable you to create your recipes.
a waste of time 2008-03-21
Now it's easier than ever for woodworkers to get a perfect finish on every project! This book dispels the myths about wood finishing and explains exactly how and why every finish behaves the way it does.
Project saver 2008-02-08
This book along with Teri Masaschi's book saved a 3 month project. Bob's is technical and Teri's is "how to" so they compliment each other. Get both. If you have never finished a large expensive project before, this is mandatory reading. My first piece was a queen bed, Stickley style, out of cherry. Thanks to them it turned out beautiful.
I learned a lot from this book. 
2008-01-13
Well written and full of a lot of useful information. I only gave it 4 stars because there is very little information about painting. I wish the author had devoted a full chapter or 2 on painting and sanding between coats and the differences of the many types of paint compounds.
Best hands on book yet 2007-12-01
Enjoyed this book very much. It can be used by beginners to very advanced. Easy and complete instructions
Disappointed - old version 2007-11-05
I checked out a book by Bob Flexner from the library and liked it so much I wanted to buy it. But this book was NOT the same book. I could not tell until I received it from Amazon that it was an old version that was considerably inferior (content and print and photo quality) to the more recent book I had checked out.
