How to Be an Expert with Varnish

Varnish is the most professional looking finish you can use. It will take more scrubbing and more general abuse than any other. It is thought by most to be the nicest looking finish as well. The downside to varnish is that it's a lot more trouble to use. With a little time and patience, however, you can have a finish that will beautifully last a lifetime.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Know what varnish will do to your wood project. Varnish brings out all the natural wood grain beauty. It darkens the finish and shows a great deal of depth to the wood.

2. Know that it will show deeper scratches easily because the finished product is so perfect. If the piece is scratched badly, it will have to be refinished when the same scratch on another piece may have been touched up or even fixed with wood scratch cover.

3. Know some of the special challenges that varnish brings. Make sure to gently stir varnish and never shake it or it will develop air bubbles that you will never be able to get out. It also needs to be brushed lightly and minimally as over brushing can leave a streaky, lined finish.

4. Understand that the finishes of some varnishes may discolor with age. Sometimes they take on a yellow tone. Varnish usually requires a second coat, unlike some finishes which need only one.

5. Know what types of varnish are available. You can choose from flat (no shine), satin (low shine), semi-gloss (moderate shine) and high gloss (very shiny). Use the higher gloss varnishes for area that need a tougher skin, such as cabinets or baseboards.

6. Use varnish in areas that are high traffic areas. Kitchen and bathroom woodwork, door frames, window sills and anywhere that will need to be regularly scrubbed of dirt or grease. Use a rub in paste wax after varnishing to provide extra protection against scratches.

7. Enjoy your new varnished pieces or woodwork for many years, knowing that you gave your work the most beautiful finish available.