On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 09:51:37 -0500, Australopithecus scobis
calmly ranted:

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 06:31:55 -0700, Never Enough Money wrote:

Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish
by Bob Flexner

^__ my vote

I read one of the Jewitt books (GWF) at the same time I
first read the Flexner. I found the Flexner to be better. Jewitt
does have a lot of info regarding UK enviro/safety regs, so it might be a
good choice for UK readers.

Here's a sideways generalization for you: I just read the Taunton
sharpening book by Lie-Nielsen. If I didn't already own Lee's sharpening
book, I'd consider buying about the L-N book. So, with a sample size of 1,
I find the Taunton books to be well-done.

I own a dozen Taunton books and have read a dozen more. I found
that nearly all of them, despite the topic or subject, are very
well done. (But I still call 'em the Taunt Me Press)

I found Flexner's book to be dry, limp, & lifeless (like my hair)
but good in content. I wasn't dippy about the photography.

My favorite wood discoloration book is Jewitt's "Hand Applied
Finishes", followed by the Flexner and Dresdner books, in
that order.

I read Flexner's "Understanding Wood Finishing", Jewitt's "Hand
Applied Finishes", and Dresdner's "The Woodfinishing Book" in that
order in a period of a couple months a few years ago.

Flexner concerned himself more with theory and science, Jewitt
with hands-on work/appraisals/experience, and Dresdner with
his experiences (with which I often found myself disagreeing.)

I'd recommend the first two for inclusion in any WW's library.


-
Yea, though I walk through the valley of Minwax, I shall stain no Cherry.
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