Accessibility Statement
Choosing the Right Finish

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Choosing the Right Finish


Many woodworkers, regardless of their skill level, find finishing a daunting task. In this introduction to our video series on finishing, Lee Valley woodworker Andrew helps demystify the process. He explains how to choose the best finish for your project and discusses surface preparation.


Finishing Essentials

Wiping Osmo Polyx hard wax oil onto wood using a cloth

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Osmo Polyx Satin Hard Wax Oil

From: $21.00

Walrus Oil furniture finish applied to a live-edge table

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Walrus Oil Furniture Finish

$15.95

Brushing red milk paint onto the top of a small wooden box

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Milk Paint

$19.50

An opened jar of beeswax salad bowl finish set on a butcher’s block

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish

From: $8.90

Speaking a deck with an All-in-One HVLP Sprayer

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

All-in-One HVLP Sprayer

$129.00

03K0310 - Small Portable Spray Shelter (35"" × 30"" × 39"")

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Portable Spray Shelters

From: $39.50

Paintbrush soaking in a wash can

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Paintbrush Wash Can

$24.50

56z9930 - Set of 30 Bristle Brushes

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Disposable Natural-Bristle Brushes

From: $5.50

Discarding an oil-soaked rag in a flammable-waste can in a workshop

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Metal Can for Flammable Waste

$109.00

Applying stain to a strip of wood with an absorbent cotton wipe

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Absorbent Cotton Wipes

$24.50

49L5101 - Understanding Wood Finishing, 3rd Revised Edition

This image has not been loaded. To print the images, close the print view and scroll to the bottom of the article. Once all of the images have loaded, select the print option again.

Understanding Wood Finishing, 3rd Revi...

by Bob Flexner

$23.50