I thought it was extra work, but one dusty shop day showed me how key it is for a clean coat.
Now I just order pre-mixed online and miss those slow, messy lessons at his workbench.
My first boss taught me to use linseed oil and a rag for weeks on a single piece. Now with modern hard wax oils, you can get a similar look in a day, but I still like the old slow way.
Used to skip the grain filler step. Now I never do, and my finishes last years longer.
I thought dark stains always looked too heavy. Seeing the old oak shelves with a deep brown stain, I get it now.
I thought using a pizza cutter to strip varnish from a chair would be clever. Now it has slice marks and a faint cheese odor. What odd items have you tried in a pinch?
We both have different ways of applying lacquer. How do you merge processes without compromising quality?
I used to fill every pore, but leaving them open on my last chair project saved time and added character.