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Excerpted from Understanding Wood
Understanding Wood: Finishing and Protecting Wood
A scientific approach to surface treatment, protection, and appearance
by R. Bruce Hoadley
The word "finish" in woodworking usually describes a final surface treatment that both protects the wood and enhances its appearance. Most woodworkers agree that some form of protection is typically necessary. The matter of appearance, however, is more controversial, depending on individual taste and preference. Achieving a good-looking finish on wood involves a combination of two elements: the surface condition of the wood and the finishing treatment applied to it.
In this excerpt from the second edition of Understanding Wood, author R. Bruce Hoadley approaches surface preparation from a scientist's point of view, showing the effects of various machining techniques and finishing options on the structure of the wood.
Understanding Wood answers every woodworker's question: Why does wood do what it does? Updated to include new information on composite materials, adhesives, and finishes developed in the past 20 years, this completely revised classic explores the nature of wood and its properties, the basics of wood technology, and the woodworker's raw materials.
R. Bruce Hoadley is professor of wood science and technology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is a contributing editor to Fine Woodworking and author of Identifying Wood.
Photos: Stephen Smulski; Randy O'Rourke, R. Bruce Hoadley, Richard Starr; drawings: Mario Ferro
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