Top Journalists in Furniture Repair

Jeff Jewitt Fine Woodworking; Homestead Finishing Products (owner)

Finishing/refinishing authority and long-time Fine Woodworking contributor; author of Refinishing Furniture Made Simple and Taunton’s Complete Illustrated Guide to Finishing. Specialties: Furniture refinishing, spray and hand-applied finishes, color matching, repair techniques.

Will Sampson Woodworking Network / FDMC

Editorial Director at Woodworking Network/FDMC who covers the professional woodworking trade—including finishing shops—and hosts the Woodworking Network Podcast. Specialties: Industry trends affecting finishing/repair shops, pricing, operations, tools and coatings coverage.

Bob Flexner Popular Woodworking

Legendary “Flexner on Finishing” columnist and author of Understanding Wood Finishing; widely cited voice on repairing and restoring finishes. Specialties: Furniture finishing and refinishing, repairs of damaged coatings, finish chemistry myth-busting.

Peter Gedrys Fine Woodworking

Museum-level finisher who regularly writes on finishing methods and repairs for Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding. Specialties: High-end finishing for furniture and architectural woodwork; glazes, dyes, French polish; restoration techniques.

Michael Dresdner Woodworker’s Journal; Fine Woodworking (past contributor)

Veteran finisher, author of The New Wood Finishing Book, and long-time columnist explaining repair and finishing solutions for woodworkers. Specialties: Practical finishing fixes, repair techniques, finishing Q&A for furniture and casework.

Kevin Southwick Popular Woodworking; Southwick Furniture Conservation (principal)

Furniture conservator and finishing specialist who writes step-by-step repair/finishing articles and teaches conservation-focused techniques. Specialties: Furniture conservation and repair, finish rejuvenation, water-damage and oxidation fixes, French polishing.

Don Williams Independent (Don’s Barn); Simon & Schuster (author)

Former Senior Furniture Conservator at the Smithsonian; author and educator who writes extensively on conserving and restoring furniture and finishes. Specialties: Furniture conservation ethics and techniques, historic finishes (including shellac), restoration best practices.

Greg Williams Woodshop News; The Finishing Store (contributor)

Former senior instructor for Mohawk/Behlen who writes practical columns on repair and finishing workflows for pros. Specialties: Touch‑up and repair, color matching, troubleshooting finish failures, process training for refinishers.

Mitch Kohanek Fine Woodworking; National Institute of Wood Finishing (founder)

Founder of the National Institute of Wood Finishing; educator and author of finishing articles used by restorers and refinishers. Specialties: Spray-gun selection and setup, finishing systems, refinishing education for professionals.

Teri Masaschi Independent; frequent contributor to national woodworking magazines

Author of Foolproof Wood Finishing and frequent magazine contributor known for accessible, repair‑oriented finishing instruction. Specialties: Furniture finishing and restoration, hand-applied finishes, repair and touch‑up methods.

Jeff Jewitt Fine Woodworking; Homestead Finishing Products

Refinishing pro and finishing-supplies founder who writes books and numerous how‑to articles focused on furniture refinishing and repair. Specialties: Color matching, spray finishing, refinishing workflows, finishing problem‑solving.

Lonnie Bird Fine Woodworking (contributor)

Furniture maker/author who has published finishing recipes and restoration‑adjacent finishing guidance for woodworkers. Specialties: Antique and period finishes, recipes for maple/tiger maple, traditional finishing for period furniture.

Jennifer Hicks Woodshop News

Staff writer covering small‑shop news and features, including profiles of restoration specialists and finishing shops. Specialties: Trade reporting on restorers/refinishers, shop profiles, techniques/features on restoration businesses.

Logan Wittmer Popular Woodworking

Editor in Chief overseeing Popular Woodworking’s coverage of finishing, repair, and furniture‑making techniques. Specialties: Editorial coverage of woodworking techniques, including finishing and repair content planning; trade contacts in the space.

David Sorg Fine Woodworking (contributor)

Fine Woodworking contributor whose finishing pieces (e.g., on brush selection/use) support successful furniture refinishing. Specialties: Applying/choosing brushes and topcoats, finish application technique and troubleshooting.

Ari Tuckman Fine Woodworking (contributor)

Writer known for practical finishing‑prep pieces that directly impact repair and refinish outcomes. Specialties: Sanding and surface prep for finishing/refinishing; when to stop sanding; planing vs. scraping decisions.

A.J. Hamler Woodshop News

Woodworking author/columnist who covers repair‑centric shop projects and restoration problem‑solving for readers. Specialties: How‑to restoration and repair narratives for woodworkers; practical fixes (e.g., chair repairs).

Kevin Southwick Popular Woodworking; Southwick Furniture Conservation

Conservator and frequent author whose articles guide pros and serious DIYers through complex furniture repairs and finish restoration. Specialties: Conservation‑minded repair, veneer/marquetry repair, French polish, color/finish matching.

Christophe Pourny Independent (Christophe Pourny Studio)

Renowned restorer and author of The Furniture Bible who writes extensively about identifying, restoring, and caring for furniture surfaces. Specialties: Antique restoration, finish care recipes, consumer‑friendly repair/care instruction.

Mario Rodriguez Fine Woodworking; Popular Woodworking (contributor)

Furniture maker/teacher and prolific author of finishing articles that bridge build, repair, and refinish practices. Specialties: Padding lacquer and traditional finish techniques applicable to repair and restoration.