40 feet of red oak book shelfs

I used to feel the same way about staining/painting projects. Then I had someone finish a project themself and it made it look worse than when it left the shop. Since unfortunately most people that do not understand that woodworking and finishing are 2 different realms of woodworking, often confuse the quality of the finish with the entire quality of the project. I try to preach this to the kids, sometimes I get through. I have discovered pre-cat lacquer and a sprayer are an easy quick professional quality finish. They can even tint lacquer for colors. That is my next venture when I need a colored project.

Anyways, great job on the project.

Very nice. I would like to have some shelves like those myself. Did you use oak plywood for the back?

Some very impressive shelves. I agree with tooldad that a customers lousy job on finishing a project and unfortunately reflect upon the woodworker.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Yup , their friends won’t see your craftsmanship , all they’ll see is the lousy finish : (
Well at least we got to see how nice a job you’ve done in these “before” pictures : )

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

Very well done 40 feet that’s a lot of shelves.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I agree that woodworking and finishing are two different realms. I have been working on my finishing skills. As of now, I find it better to have someone else do a bad stain or paint job, than me. I find a happy customer with my woodworking , is a paying customer. I also have a professional painter as a friend. I tell the customer the dangers of staining or painting themselves and refer them to my friend. Most have used my friend to paint or stain the project and they have turned out great