Q. This week: I was interested in the column you did a few weeks ago about applying varnish to a tabletop. Usually, painters recommend that varnish be applied with the best quality brush available, ...

Varnish protects and beautifies wood grain furniture, but it's difficult to apply without getting streaks or drip marks. Start with a high-quality natural bristle brush and you're halfway to a smooth ...

What went wrong is that you did not prepare the old finish properly. It must be sanded lightly but thoroughly to roughen the finish and reduce gloss, if any. This will give the old finish a bit of a ...

Apply the finish with a synthetic brush, foam pad, or lambswool applicator. It can be recoated in 2 hours, but must dry for at least 24 hours before light use of the table. For maximum protection, ...