Rating: 
Summary: The first step in finishing? BUY THIS BOOK!!
Review: The most comprehensive woodworking book I've read. Exactly what you need to know about finishing. You work hard on projects, and can lose it in the finishing. This book gives you confidence and information needed to complete the job. Beats reading small printing on containers.
Rating:
Summary: So you'd like to finish wood?
Review: This book is a GREAT place to start your journey into wood finishing. Bob starts by systematically explaining the logic and science behind different types of finish, including oils (varnish "oils" too, polyurethane and such), shellac, lacquer, conversion, waterbase, waxes, and more. He also explains application methodology IN DEPTH, such as, french polishing, brushing, spraying. He explains shaping tools (these include scrapers with sharpening methods, spokeshave devices, steel wools, rubbing compounds, sandpapers (all types)) and how to use them to achieve results. He then goes in depth into suggestions for different woods, limited exotics and many domestics, as well as good rule of thumb's. Main positives to this book: Mr. Flexner has given in depth and yet layman's explanations of how finishes work and the chemicals involved. This is integral to applying a good finish, in my opinion. This book could stand alone as everything a fledgling finisher needs to tackle any project. Main negatives: Mr. Flexner is very informative and systematic. That said, he is obviously not a writer by trade. You WILL find yourself treating this as a reference book, its not a "sunday read" for the woodworking inclined. Several times (not many, but a couple) he contradicts himself (there is a passage that "debunks" the myth of better protection from thicker film build of a finish, and then later he suggests building the finish to a thicker film for "better protection...") These negative in my opinion NO way detract from the book. It is an incredible reference tool for the amateur, and marks a necessary item for the professional finisher's bookshelf. JTAcoustics
Rating:
Summary: So you'd like to finish wood?
Review: This book is a GREAT place to start your journey into wood finishing. Bob starts by systematically explaining the logic and science behind different types of finish, including oils (varnish "oils" too, polyurethane and such), shellac, lacquer, conversion, waterbase, waxes, and more. He also explains application methodology IN DEPTH, such as, french polishing, brushing, spraying. He explains shaping tools (these include scrapers with sharpening methods, spokeshave devices, steel wools, rubbing compounds, sandpapers (all types)) and how to use them to achieve results. He then goes in depth into suggestions for different woods, limited exotics and many domestics, as well as good rule of thumb's. Main positives to this book: Mr. Flexner has given in depth and yet layman's explanations of how finishes work and the chemicals involved. This is integral to applying a good finish, in my opinion. This book could stand alone as everything a fledgling finisher needs to tackle any project. Main negatives: Mr. Flexner is very informative and systematic. That said, he is obviously not a writer by trade. You WILL find yourself treating this as a reference book, its not a "sunday read" for the woodworking inclined. Several times (not many, but a couple) he contradicts himself (there is a passage that "debunks" the myth of better protection from thicker film build of a finish, and then later he suggests building the finish to a thicker film for "better protection...") These negative in my opinion NO way detract from the book. It is an incredible reference tool for the amateur, and marks a necessary item for the professional finisher's bookshelf. JTAcoustics
Rating:
Summary: Buy This Book
Review: This book is a great resource for any woodworker. Especially valuable are the many examples of specific finishes with various types of woods. You will get the results you want with this book.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely THE BEST Book on Finishing You Will Ever Find!!!
Review: This book is a MUST for anyone interested in woods and the care and finishing of them. I can't believe how much time and money I have spent trying to find the perfect book and here it is! All the science is there for the reading and so many myths about wood are exposed. I just cannot say enough about it except that if you work with or are intersted in wood you cannot afford to be without this book!
Rating:
Summary: I can't imagine a better book on wood finishing.
Review: This book is one of the best woodworking books I have ever read on any topic. This book happens to be on wood finishes. Not only does the author tell you about various finishes and what they might be best for, but he tells you why! Not only does this extra information satisfy curiosity, but it helps you learn how to pick a finish even if your exact situation is not listed in the book. The author provides helpfull tricks like how to tell if a can of finish is an oil or a varnish. (let some dry on a piece of glass and check the results). How to treat pine before staining to prevent blotches. He even revleas the ridiculous labeling practices of the finish makers that often make it hard to buy what you meant to buy. Did you know that many rubbing oils are varnishes, not pure oils?!? The author has clearly studied the science of finishing. He explains the whys and hows with enough detail for an engineer like me without overly complicating matters. The pictures are helpfull and well done. This book is definetely on my "must have" list for any woodworker. I just can't say enough good about this book.
Rating: 
Summary: It's almost too much
Review: This book is pretty fantastic. My guess is that Bob didn't leave anything out.
I have two issues with the book. I'd like to see more color photos. The final issue is probably more my own problem than a problem with the book. There is so much information in the book that I can't comprehend it all. I probably need to practice with all the techniques and products mentioned in the book and re-read the book several times before it all sinks in.
The book is much like a gel stain with me in that it's sitting on top and not penetrating like linseed oil.
Rating:
Summary: A must-have reference for any serious woodworker
Review: This book picks up where your woodworking project books and tapes leave you hanging. The book is incredibly thorough and helps you understand the effect that your choice of finishing product and method will have on the appearance of your woodworking projects. The book includes some good side-by-side photos to show the different effects that two types of stain (for example) will have on the same piece of wood. Definitely add this volume to your woodworking bookshelf!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best how-to books ever written
Review: This book reminds me of Alan Perlis's famous epigram, "The best book on programing for the layman is 'Alice in Wonderland', but that's because 'Alice in Wonderland' is the best book on any subject for the layman." Understanding Wood Finishing is a terrific source of information about wood treatments. But more than that, it's a shining example of the way how-to books should be written. It explains underlying principles rather than just giving recipes. It notes, analyzes, and debunks conventional wisdom. It addresses real-world concerns (such as how to figure out what a particular finishing product actually contains). It's completely exhaustive and authoritative. And finally, it's engagingly and competently written. The labor and care that went into this book are evident from cover to cover. I recommend it without reservation.
Rating:
Summary: setting the standard
Review: this book sets the standard that all other finishing books follow, except that you can understand it and actually apply it to your project.from the novice weekend woodworker to the professional finisher, you will learn from it. i learned more from one night of reading it than i did in all the time i spent in shop class. buy this book, read this book, and put it on your shelf with your stains and varnishes because you will pull it out as often as your paint brush.
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