Ditto on the two books mentioned. I have almost 40 years experience applying coatings to metal surfaces, (some which are subjected to Mach 3 abuse as well as space-shuttle exhaust deterioration) read papers on oligomers and polygomers, know cross-linking and leafing of pigments, understand resins, binders, solvents, etc, but the world of finishing wood furniture left me cold. I quickly found out I did not know squat about it.
I have as yet only glanced through Jeff Jewitt's book (it is on my wish-purchase list), but have the one by Bob Flexner. With it, you can go direct to the type coating you are using and get the "how-to" for applying it, but later you would be well advised to go through the chapters on the "whys".
It took me many years to really comprehend the characteristics and limitations of the different types of coatings, and I am still learning, but I feel either book will give you enough info to produce a good looking finish on your work.
That said, you will not do it well the first time unless you are lucky. If lucky, it won't happen the second time in a row. As with any skill, practice helps, so save those scrap cut-offs from your project to experiment on.
(Just another reason why most here have a problem with getting rid of the scrap wood until it pushes them out of their shop :rolf::rolf
Go
PS: Finishes are really one area where it is very difficult to cut costs of you want a good end product. Good prep, good brush (or application equipment), good quality coating, and a lot of patience sure helps.
PPS: You also may want to do a search and read all the posts by Howard Acheson. If he wrote a book, that is one I would definitely buy.
