When it comes to finishing pens, bowls, and many other small turnings, you won't find any easier way than applying the finish while the project spins on the lathe.

Copper almost seems to be a metal made for woodworkers. Its warm, rich color complements wood rather than fighting with it for our attention. And, copper, one of the first metals used by man, works easily.

Aniline dyes offer another approach for your finishing. Whether in wood tones or bright hues, these transparent dyes impart rich color without obscuring the grain.

When the time came to apply an authentic-looking old-time country finish to our newly designed oak bedroom furniture set, we turned to our own Robby Pederson to provide the special touch. In addition to Robby's expertise in answering reader correspondence here at WOOD® magazine, he works as the hands-on demonstrator in the cabinet shop at Living History Farms in Des Moines, Iowa. A student of things past, Robby proved to be the right person to show us how to create a time-worn country look using a modern-day approach.

Want to achieve a finish that not only looks like glass, but feels that way too? Try filling the grain first.

Professional woodworker Victor DiNovi captures wood's true beauty and protects it with a finish he calls a "compromise."

Plagued by cracks in a piece of old furniture? Unless it's a museum piece, this simple repair might fill the bill.

If you've never tried gel stains, you're missing out on what could be an important part of your finishing repertoire. In certain situations (that we'll tell you about) these thickened stains perform better than thin-bodied (liquid) stains. But, they do have limitations. And, as we discovered, subtle differences exist between the three major brands we tested.

When it comes to altering the color of wood, woodworkers routinely turn to stains to give wood more-or a slightly different-color. But wood bleach lets you remove color from wood.

Georgia woodturner Bill Hug applies a super-adhesive finish to make his finest small pieces sparkle. And it's literally a sticky process.

Water and heat rings on tabletops and other surfaces rank high on the list of common finish faults. Here are some tricks that just might make them go away.

Here's how to make make a veneer patch match.

Seven steps to a heavenly finish.

You've discovered a great piece of furniture, but the once-shiny finish has seen better days. If you knew what the finish was, it would be easier to remedy its condition. Now, you can find out.