Wood finishes

Today in wood shop we learned all about wood finishes. My professor has been working in wood for about 50 years and has art pieces in museums and collections all over the place including the Smithsonian.

There are three sealants that he suggested.

The first is Danish Oil. It is applied quickly with a cloth, allowed to permeate the wood over a time 10-30 minutes and then the excess is wiped off. Once the oil has dried over a period of a day or so, it is sanded with either a very fine sand paper or 0000 steel wood. This process is repeated several times to impregnate the wood with the oil. As the oil dries it hardens and does a great job of protecting the wood. It is also good at darkening the color of the wood.

The second is a lacquer or varnish. It can be painted on using 2-3 coats with sanding in between. It can also  be sprayed on using a store bought can or used through a paint gun. It is great at preserving a piece for a long time. It is not the best though for pieces that will be abused as it can crack and wear off the wood (something I wish I knew before I made my longboard).  It also slightly darkens the wood although not as much as oil does.

The third option is wax. Wax is another great option. Wax has the advantage of not changing the color of the wood much at all. So if there is a piece that has perfect color already it is easy to keep it that way with wax. It is also a good option if you are making something that is going to hold food. A mixture of beeswax and mineral oil will make a paste that can be rubbed into the wood to seal it but remain safe for food. Many of the wood Egyptian art pieces that are found today in great condition were sealed with wax. Some waxes will last better than others.