Unpopular opinion: Spray-on finishes are making hand-rubbed ones a lost art

At a local show, I saw a booth full of spray-finished tables that looked flat. The owner bragged about speed and even coverage. But I miss the depth you get from multiple hand-rubbed coats. Is efficiency worth losing that traditional skill? Curious what you all think.

3 comments

3 Comments

fionas392mo ago

Does that booth owner even know what they're missing? I'll take the depth of hand-rubbed any day (even if it takes forever).

danieltaylor2mo ago

@fionas39, that point about depth is key. What a lot of people don't get is how hand-rubbing works the finish into the grain over time. It's not just about look, it's about feel and how it ages. A booth finish might shine now, but it won't wear the same way. The time you put in, like you said, builds something that lasts. That's why I'll always choose the slow way, too.

james2792mo ago

Exactly. A sprayed finish just sits on top. The hand work bonds with the wood, becoming part of it. That's what creates a real heirloom.