An oil finishes is a great choice when you want the protection but also want the natural look and feel of the wood. Oil is penetrating and durable, but should be reapplied over time to keep its maximum protection.

The wood you have chosen for your oil finishes must be well sanded to even out any deep pores and provide the nice smooth surface you desire on the wood. Next step is to clean the wood with a tack cloth and make sure there is no dust or lint on the surface.

Apply the oil with a clean, lint free rag or a cheese cloth pad. Apply a small amount of oil to the rag or pad and work from the least accessible areas to the easiest accessible areas. Apply the oil evenly and liberally with the grain till the wood can not absorb any more oil. Let the oil sit for 1/2 hour on the surface then wipe off the excess.

Drying times vary with each oil. Tung and Danish oil will dry quicker than linseed oil. Usually its 12 to 24 hours for ting and Danish older and can be any where from 24 hours to a week for linseed oil. Verify with the manufactures directions for each product.

When the first coat is completely dry, apply the next coat and repeat the process till the finish is rich and hard. Tung and Danish oil can take two to three coats till the desired finish is achieved, but depending on the exact mixture of linseed oil it can take anywhere from three to twenty coats to achieve the desired finish. The coat offinish must be completely dry before applying another. If the wood surface feels sticky then you must wait longer before applying another coat.

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