MAY JLC 1997
Aclear finish is used to protect wood and to enhance
the wood's figure and coloration, but does neither
well unless the surface is properly prepared. In this
article, we'll explain how to prepare a wood surface to
accept the many available kinds of clear finishes. In a future article,
we'll survey clear finishes and explain how to apply them.
New Wood
A close examination of the wood surface is the first step in
preparing for any finish, because the finish will magnify even
the smallest flaw. The most common blemish is likely to be mill
marks that show up as horizontal waves running across the
length of the molding