For ten years, Joe L'Erario was co-host of the television programs
Furniture on the Mend, Furniture to Go and Men in Toolbelts.
He has been finishing furniture since 1978 and has taught seminars on wood finishing and decorative finishes throughout North America.
He is also coauthor of The Furniture Guys Book and most recently, Creating the Perfect Wood Finish with Joe L'Erario, published by Popular Woodworking books.
In addition, Joe is an artist who has been painting for as far back as he can remember. To view Joe's artwork you can log onto www.paintrunsdeep.com

Ten things you should know
by Joe L’Erario
1. Never try and clean older furniture with spray cleaners that contain ammonia. Many older finishes (mid 30's and before)
are shellac based and ammonia loves to eat away shellac finishes.

2. Be aware of what you are about to strip. If you think the piece may have some history and value to it, removing its finish because
it doesn't go with you color scheme in the living room is going to kill a possible market value. Always have something you think is bona fide antique
evaluated by a professional, er, ah, bonafier!

3. Outdoors decks and wooden furniture will last much longer with a new coat of marine varnish every couple of years.
Marine varnish is the best possible finish for out door wooden surfaces---except for boat wood that is beneath a water line.

4. But first more about Marine Varnish: Part of the reason that Marine, or, "Spar" varnishes are so good for exterior wood is that
they contain UV blockers which protect the wood from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

5. Never cut the legs or top from an old piece of furniture just to get it into your house.
I will come and find you and hurt you.

6. Finishes are not impervious to human behavior.
Do not cut rolls, meat, or flower stems on wood surfaces that are finished with lacquer, varnish, polyurethane, or shellac.
What are you crazy?

7. Dryness and dampness are the bane of old antique furniture.

8. If you have rickety dinning room chairs the only way to repair them properly is to bang them apart, clean all the ends
of the wood parts that go into the other parts, (peg and dowel, mortise and tenon etc.) re-glue and then clamp with the appropriate amount of bar clamps.
Don't use nails or angle brackets.

9. I’ll bet you didn't know that black Kiwi shoe polish is and excellent wax for wooden surfaces.

10. If you have an old secretary, get yourself a younger one.

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