Introduction- initial explanations of:
Ingredients of paints and varnishes, their composition and terminology
The demonstrations on the tape are all
start-to-finish projects. They are
presented so that each one introduces
products and techniques in an order
that builds on earlier knowledge gained.
Viewers who might be primarily
interested in clear wood finishes, or painted
faux finishes, will still find lots of
very useful information in the other
demo's. (Besides, there are small bits of
humor tucked here and there that
shouldn't be missed!)
First demonstration: Wipe-on Oil
with Wax Finish
We use a child's oak chair that has been stripped of
its old finish and then
apply several coats of oil to accentuate its
golden tones. The final surface
is buffed with steel wool and wax for an
easy, soft, and natural look.
Description of wiping
oils; linseed, tung, synthetic. Products and
materials demonstrated include foam brushes, wet-or-dry
sandpaper,
steel wool, and paste wax.
Second demonstration:
Shellac
A jewelry box of birdseye maple is given several coats of
fast-drying shellac
while demonstrating flowing brush style and wet sanding.
The result is a fast, and
easy-to-obtain film finish that beautifully
displays the wood's figuring.
Description of white
(clear) and orange (amber) shellacs and their
uses.
Products and materials demonstrated also include
water-based
wood putty, artist's palette knife,
masking tape tips, tack rags, wet brush
storage, sanding sponges and sanding blocks.
Third demonstration: Stain, Wood
Filler, and Varnish
A pair of mahogany chests are used to
demonstrate the use of wood stains,
wood filler, and oil-based
varnishes. This very traditional application of products
is a great
showcase for brush handling, the differences between dry and
wet
sanding, and in the difference in the appearance of a
hand-rubbed satin finish
versus satin (in the can) varnish. The look is
luscious, both visually, and to
touch.
Descriptions of wood stains,
paste wood filler, and alkyd varnishes.
Additional products used are solvent-based wood putties.
Fourth demonstration: Latex and
acrylic
A previously finished (translate: bought at a
garage sale) chest of drawers is
painted, antiqued, and given a top of
painted faux marble. This is a rapidly
moving, fun demonstration of what can
be done in a couple of hours to create
a lovely, useful piece from an ugly
beginning.
Lots of products and techniques are shown
here, including: different kinds
of surface prep
(sanding vs. chemical etching), primers,
primer/sealers,
masking, paint sheens, glazes and
glazing, sponges, feathers, spattering,
pastels, color mixing, acrylic varnishes, and "positive" style faux
marble.
Fifth demonstration: Oriental
lacquer-look, faux "negative" style marble
The funky project of
the video, a pair of bedside chests are used to show
a
rub-through technique that imitates lacquer on its sides, with a faux
marble top
done in a "negative" style.
Additional techniques shown here include toning glaze, stippling, and
softening.
A short wrap-up emphasizes how
the viewer can use the preceding information
to create finishes of their
own with the confidence that comes with understanding
the "why-to" as
much as the "how-to."