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Bernie Bottens

Bernie Bottens writes and teaches on the subject of wood and wood finishing in industrial woodworking. He and his wife, Carol, live in Vancouver, WA. Bernie has been teaching wood finishing to shop owners, shop foremen, spray technicians and finishers all over Oregon, southwest Washington, and northern California for the past 9 years. Prior to that, he owned his own cabinet shop. His shop credentials include apprenticing and becoming a journeyman exhibit builder. Before that he taught in the public schools for 20 years. Bernie is the owner of Kapellmeister Enterprises, Inc. and Kap Coatings Consulting.

Sanding and Finishing

Recycling lacquer and paint? Yes you can

Buying someone else's recycled lacquer thinner can be a risky bet. But if you control the entire recycle process using your own still, it can be a good idea. Under these circumstances, painters in the shop know what chemicals they are loading into the still; and they know the content of the output after the process is complete