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DIY Guides · From the ShopNo gatekeeping. No watered-down advice. These are the same processes used in the shop, written out step by step so you can try it yourself. Some of you will nail it. Some of you will call us. Either way you will know exactly what you are getting into before you start.
A customer who understands the process makes better decisions. They send better photos. They ask better questions. They know what they are looking at when the estimate comes back.
So we put it all out here. The products we trust, the steps we follow, the places where DIY works and the places where it does not. If you can do it yourself and save the money, good for you. If you get halfway in and realize this is more than you signed up for, you know where to find us.
For surface-level fixes. Scratches, dull spots, and minor finish wear that Howard's Restor-A-Finish and Feed-N-Wax can handle in an afternoon. The easiest starting point and the right tool for a lot of problems.
Read the GuideFor older pieces with original lacquer or shellac finishes that have lost their depth. This is the non-strip process, clean, reactivate, color correct, seal. More involved than a touch-up but still DIY-able if you are patient and methodical.
Read the GuideThe full bring-back. Chemical stripping, sanding to bare wood, staining, sealing. This is what a professional ReFinish looks like from the inside. Read it and decide honestly whether you want to take it on.
Read the GuideLoose joints, wobbly chairs, failed drawers. Structural repair is more accessible than most people think if you have the right glue, the right clamps, and a little patience. Know when DIY works and when it is shop work.
Read the GuideThese guides are real. The processes work. But there is a difference between a scratch on a side table and a family heirloom dining set that has been in three generations of suppers. Know what you have before you decide how to treat it. If you are not sure, send us a few photos. The opinion is free.