Choosing a Wood Finish

You can normally apply any finish to wood as the usage of the wood dictates what finish you should apply. Each application has its pros and cons and the choice should based on the demands you put on it. For example, a wax finish is easy to apply but it won't protect a kitchen table from wear and frequent cleaning. Most finishes can be applied with a variety of tools, Shellac, Danish Oil, Oil Varnish or Polyurethane can be applied with a lint free cloth, brush or spray gun. You can purchase finishes in a spray can which you can use to spray onto your project but this can be costly if you are doing it often.

It's always essential to prepare all of your woodwork prior to finishing. This includes sanding all surfaces to a 120grit level before finishing. With the majority of finishes, you should "de-nib" the finish in between coats with 240grit or higher sandpaper to remove raised wood fibres.

Common Wood Finishes:

• Oil Based Paint

• Acrylic Paint (water based)

• Varnish

• Acrylic Varnish (water based)

• Linseed & Tung Oil

• Danish Oil

• Shellac

• Lacquer

• Wax

• Oil Poly (hybrid finish of natural oils and hard wax)

Oils add depth and richness to the wood and bring out an amber colour. A water based finishes won't highlight the wood's features, this could be chosen if you wanted to preserve the original colour of the wood (e.g. Maple). Water based finishes are non-flammable and brushes are easily washed in water. The coats will dry fast (usually 4-6 hours to recoat), whereas oil finish can be 6+ hours depending on temperature and humidity. Brushes that are used with oils will require white spirit to clean. Always read the instructions on your product to ensure you follow the correct timings.

So Which Finish?

My go to finish is a oil poly, as you can see from the table it is good or excellent on everything but is usually the most expensive. The brand I buy is Fiddes Hard Wax Oil, it is a blend of natural oils and waxes offering exceptional durability and resistance. Osmo also offer their version of this called Osmo Polyx-Oil Original.