Woodworking finishing with natural oils not only enhance the natural beauty of wood, they protect it. As a woodworker, you want finishes that are safe, effective, and easy to apply. Natural oils check all those boxes and more. I discovered how well they work after finishing a black walnut side table with pure tung oil. The oil intensified the wood grain and drew out rich colors. It gave the table a smooth, silky feel and a subtle sheen. As I ran my hands along the surface, I was struck by the natural texture and warmth of the wood. I was impressed and convinced of the value of using food-safe plant-based oils to finish woodworking projects.
| Topic | Key Takeaways |
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| Benefits of Natural Oils |
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| Preparing and Applying Oils |
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| Maintaining Oiled Surfaces |
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| Best Woods for Oils |
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| FAQ Topics |
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Benefits of Using Natural Oils for Wood Finishes
Natural oils offer many advantages over synthetic finishes:
- Non-toxic and environmentally-friendly: Made from plants, natural oils are non-toxic, free of volatile compounds, and safe to touch once cured. That makes them better for the environment and healthier for woodworkers.
- Enhance wood grain: Rather than coating the surface, oils penetrate wood pores to accentuate the natural grain patterns and colors. Oils bring out different undertones from the unique blend of lignins and extractives in each wood species.
- Allow wood’s texture to show through: Thin, penetrating oils preserve the natural texture and feel of sanded wood. Synthetic film finishes create a plastic-like surface coating.
- Offer decent protection: Cured natural oils protect wood from minor water exposure and many common substances. Oils also inhibit mold and fungus growth.
- Fast application and curing: Oils absorb rapidly into smooth sanded wood. Multiple thin coats can be applied in a day with very little drying time between coats.
The best candidates for oil finishing are food-safe drying oils like tung oil or linseed oil. Walnut oil and hemp seed oil also produce nice results. These oils cure in the wood to form a protective matte to low sheen finish.
Preparing and Applying Natural Wood Finishing Oils
Success with natural oils starts with proper preparation:
- Sand wood thoroughly with increasingly finer grit sandpaper up to 320-grit. This removes mill marks and roughness to enable maximum oil penetration.
- Clean the surface with a rag dampened lightly with mineral spirits to remove all dust and contaminants. Let wood dry completely before applying oil.
- Use high quality pure cotton cloths or microfiber cloths to rub in oil. Avoid cheap fuzzy cloths that could leave lint and stray fibers.
- Use a rubber gloving pad when applying oil to avoid over-absorption into the cloth. Change cloths often.
- Apply thin coats of oil across the entire surface using smooth, circular rubbing motions to spread the oil evenly into the pores.
- Recoat once oil has penetrated fully and feels dry to the touch, usually 15 to 30 minutes between coats. Most projects require 3 to 5 coats for best protection.
- After the final coat, let the oil cure 48 to 72 hours. Curing hardens the finish.
- Rub out glossy areas by buffing lightly with ultra-fine (0000) steel wool once fully cured. This yields an even satin sheen.
I find pure tung oil the easiest to use. Three thin coats, allowing 30 minutes of penetration time followed by a light buffing with steel wool produces a durable, smooth finish.
Maintaining and Protecting Oiled Wood Surfaces
Natural oil finishes are low maintenance but do require some care:
- Use coasters, placemats and tablecloths to protect surfaces from spills and scratches.
- For routine cleaning, dust with a soft cloth and use mild soap and water. Avoid abrasive cleaners.
- Marks or light scratches are easily repaired. Spot fix damaged areas by gently rubbing in a fresh coat of oil until blended.
- Monitor wear and re-oil as needed to maintain protection, usually every 1 to 2 years depending on use. Scuff sand lightly before reapplying.
- Optional – Apply paste wax or beeswax as an added moisture barrier over cured oil finish. Buff to a sheen.
Simple oil and wax finishes create natural wood surfaces that age beautifully. Keeping them looking great is straightforward with basic care and maintenance.
Best Woods for Oil Finishes
Oil finishes bring out the best qualities in open-grained woods like:
Walnut
Oils accentuate the rich brown coloration and flowing grain lines of walnut. The finishing process draws out more uniform tonality. Walnut takes fewer coats to achieve an even sheen. The resulting smooth finish invites touch.
Cherry
Cherry features prominent reddish-brown grain patterns that gain depth from oil penetration. A natural oil finish plays up the inherent luster spectrum of the wood. From golden hues to deep garnet teaks, a clear oil finish adds dimensionality.
Cedar
The captivating aroma and subtle grain elements of aromatic cedar become more apparent with an oil finish. Thin oils maintain the light color while allowing the texture and fresh scent of this moisture-resistant softwood to come through.
Conclusion
Woodworking finishing oils lend understated elegance and versatility. Made from renewable ingredients, they are safe and easy to use. Natural oils beautifully enhance the wood’s natural color, grain, and texture while protecting it. A cured oil finish feels smooth, appears matte to low sheen, and preserves the organic warmth of wood. Maintaining an oil finish takes minutes and the results bring years of enjoyment. Discover oil and wax wood finishing – an eco-friendly method that reveals wood’s unique beauty.
FAQs
Q: How long does it take for natural oil wood finishes to dry?
A: Each thin coat of oil typically dries to the touch in 15 to 30 minutes. Oil drying involves absorption into the wood, not evaporative drying like a surface coating. Allow 48 to 72 hours of cure time for the oil to harden fully in the pores before use or recoating.
Q: Do natural oils offer good protection for tabletops?
A: Yes, cured natural oil finishes protect against minor moisture, spills, heat, scratches and other common damage. For a tabletop or dining surface, add a protective paste wax or beeswax topcoat over the cured oil finish for extra moisture resistance and sheen.
Q: Can I use vegetable oil or olive oil to finish wood?
A: Stick with drying plant oils like tung, linseed or walnut oils formulated for wood finishing. Food oils stay tacky and tend to go rancid over time with wood exposure. They do not cure properly or offer long-term protection.
Q: How do I repair scratches or water marks on an oiled wood surface?
A: Blend away minor surface damage by rubbing a small amount of fresh oil into affected areas using a cotton cloth. Remove excess oil after a few minutes. Buff gently. Deeper gouges may need spot sanding before oil application.
Q: Will oils enhance the natural figure of wood like bird’s eye maple?
A: Definitely. Thin penetrating oils accentuate the 3-dimensional chatoyance effects of intricate grain patterns in woods like bird’s eye maple. The clarity of oil allows the depth and movement of the wood’s figure to shine through beautifully.
Q: Do I need to sand and refinish an oiled surface before reapplying more oil?
A: For routine maintenance re-oiling, simply scuff sand smoothly with fine (320-400 grit) sandpaper to remove any glossy areas and provide a key for the fresh oil coat. Then wipe surface clean and apply 1 to 2 maintenance coats of oil letting each fully absorb.
Q: How often should I reapply oil to refinish wood?
A: Generally every 1 to 2 years depending on use and appearance. Increase oil reapplication frequency for wood surfaces that see heavy use or show signs of wearing – indications like fading, drying out, or roughened texture.
Suggested Links for Further Reading:
Woodworking Inspiration for Beginners
Understanding Lumber Sizes and Dimensions
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