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Anyone who has ever built themselves a piece of furniture, or refinished a piece discarded on the curb, knows the correct finish can make or break the project.
Wipe-on finishes are forgiving, easy to use and leave beautiful results, perfect for craftsmen old and new. Wipe-on finishes come in lots of varieties: oils, waxes and urethanes, as well as products that combine them with other waxes, stains or dryers.
Knowing the strengths, weaknesses and ideal applications of each wipe-on product is crucial for achieving the perfect look and feel to your project. These are the six wipe-on wood finishes I rely on the most.
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Linseed Oil
Linseed or flaxseed oil is one of the most beloved wood finishes in the world. It penetrates deep into the wood fibers to protect against minor surface scratches and changes in humidity. It’s easy to apply and maintain, and delivers a soft, satin finish that brings out the natural grain and color of the wood.
When researching linseed oil, you’ll find three types of wood finishes; raw, boiled and polymerized. Raw linseed oil, in its natural form, is somewhat impractical as a furniture finish due to its lengthy dry times. This is where it gets confusing…
Both boiled and polymerized linseed oil are marketed as “boiled” linseed oil. Boiled linseed oil isn’t only boiled; it’s often combined with potentially toxic chemicals and metallic driers to speed up the drying process.
But polymerized linseed oil is basically boiled linseed oil without the chemicals! It’s eco-friendly and food safe, but without the long drying times. Both have their places in woodworking, but it’s important to know which you have.
Always examine the bottle of “boiled” linseed oil. If it carries a warning from the state of California regarding cancer or birth defects, it’s probably full of chemicals and driers. If the bottle of reads “zero-VOC’s” or “food safe,” its actually polymerized, and my preferred choice!
My favorite is Furniture Clinic Boiled Linseed Oil.
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