Rustic Reasons #2: The Finish
It’s been said about woodworkers that the last thing we do and the first thing our end-users see is the finish. Perhaps that’s why we call this terminal process a finish. Although the unvarnished truth is that design and execution make the piece, it is often the varnish that sells it. As with many internet arguments, extreme positions are usually the result of individual bias without considering the personal preferences of others. I prefer to think in terms of tradeoffs. When it comes to finishing wood, I use a personalized set of criteria that while remaining honest and focused, allows me to mix and match tradeoffs to varying degrees. My way of thinking doesn’t take an extreme and unb...
