Wood Finishes for Furniture Refinishing
You do not need to read this from top to bottom. This page groups the main wood finishes used in furniture refinishing so you can quickly find the one you need.
Jump to a step:
Understanding wood finishes | Shellac wood finish | Oil finishes for furniture
Other wood finishes
Understanding Wood Finishes
Before choosing a finish, it helps to understand how different wood finishes behave. Some sit on the surface, some soak into the wood, and some change the colour while others protect it.
Knowing these differences makes it much easier to understand why shellac, oils, stains, paints, and polyurethane are all used in different ways during furniture refinishing.
Shellac Wood Finish
Shellac is one of the most versatile finishes used in furniture refinishing, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. It can be a finish, a primer, a sealer, and a problem solver depending on how it is used.
These cover how shellac works, how to mix it, apply it, fix it, and when it makes more sense than other finishes.
How many Coats of Shellac should you use?
Know what to expect from each coat and how build-up changes the finish.
Oil Finishes for Furniture
Oil finishes behave very differently from film finishes like shellac or polyurethane. They soak into the wood, change the tone, and leave a very different look and feel on the surface.
These cover the oils most commonly used in furniture refinishing and what to expect when applying them.
Other Wood Finishes you will Come Across
Not every finish fits neatly into oils or shellac. There are other finishes you will see mentioned in furniture refinishing that are worth understanding before you use them.
These focus on the finishes that often cause confusion when they come up in tutorials, product labels, or comparisons.
