# STL232: The Mike Mascelli Finishing Show!

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2021-01-15
- Length: 1h 09m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-01-15-stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show

## Summary

Mike Mascelli, a master furniture finisher and upholsterer with 50 years of experience, joins the Shop Talk Live hosts to answer listener questions on finishing and upholstery. He explains the technical differences between dye and pigment stains, the importance of sanding grits (specifically 220 as a rule of thumb), and the dangers of using toxic solvents like methyl hydrate instead of denatured alcohol or grain alcohol. Mascelli also provides detailed advice on identifying quality in mass-produced upholstered furniture and offers solutions for repairing loose chair joints using flexible epoxies like West System G-Flex.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-01-15-stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show#t=7) Introduction and Tribute to Phil Lowe
- [10:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-01-15-stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show#t=656) Sanding Grits and Stain Chemistry
- [23:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-01-15-stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show#t=1422) Solvent Safety: Methyl Hydrate vs. Denatured Alcohol
- [35:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-01-15-stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show#t=2114) Evaluating Quality in Upholstered Furniture
- [44:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-01-15-stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show#t=2677) Repairing Loose Chair Joints with Epoxy
- [55:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-01-15-stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show#t=3332) Rubbing Out Finishes and Basement Ventilation

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Mohawk (company)
- Rubio Monoco (product)
- West System (company)
- G-Flex (product)
- Stickley (company)
- Ethan Allen (company)
- Raymour and Flanagan (company)
- IKEA (company)
- Dakron (material)
- Micromesh (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 162: An eyeball, tongue, ear and 2 big thumbs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-03-30-episode-162-an-eyeball-tongue-ear-and-2-big-thumbs) (Making It)
- [110: Mid-life Crisis Hobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2024-03-21-110-mid-life-crisis-hobby) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Episode 163: Live Edge Bowling  Ball](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-04-06-episode-163-live-edge-bowling-ball) (Making It)
- [430: I Want This Finish To Be Drinkable](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-02-16-430-i-want-this-finish-to-be-drinkable) (Making It)
- [Episode 286: Did he look like this? Are the eyebrows right?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-11-29-episode-286-did-he-look-like-this-are-the-eyebrows-right) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-01-15-stl232-the-mike-mascelli-finishing-show. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Shop Talk Live.