Trick of the Trade: Keeping Finish Coats Clean

Nov 24, 2014

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When spreading finish, sometimes you notice little bits of lint, hair, sawdust or other debris that you have to get off the floor before it ends up in your finish coats. Those little bits can be hard to pick up, though. Here’s an easy way to remove them: Wrap a piece of tape around your finger with the sticky side out, making it easy to grab any little trash off the floor.

Thanks to Tom Monohan at East Troy, Wis.-based General Finishes for his tip. Do you have a Trick of the Trade? Send it to [email protected].

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Trick of the Trade: Taking The Temperature—Literally—Can Save Your Floors

May 19, 2026

Jj26 Tot Taking Temp

Trick of the Trade: Taking The Temperature—Literally—Can Save Your Floors

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Jj26 Tot Taking Temp

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Jj26 Techn Rule Of Three Stain Hed2

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Photo credits clockwise from top left: Rift-and-quartered select red oak from Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring and installed by Ron Doran, hickory/pecan by Robert Welp, white oak by Aaron Hall, cherry refinished by Alex Ramirez, maple by Adrian Molitor, ash by Chris Hodges. Center: Walnut by Jamie Espinoza.

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