Comments on: 107 – Oil-Based Finish Basics

By: Skip

Skip — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:39:44 +0000

Hi Marc – The box is finished. I ended up just using wax. Mostly a time constraint and that it will be light use. Sending some pictures to the viewer projects.
I will try the lacquer another time.

By: Skip

Skip — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 04:04:37 +0000

Thanks Marc – I appreciate the feedback and will give the lacquer a go…. I will send a picture or two when it is completed.

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:25:09 +0000

Hey Skip. In my opinion, a wax finish is really one minor step above using nothing at all. Cocobolo is a very dense and naturally oily wood, so I can see why it might be tempting to simply wax it and call it a day. It might do just fine on a light-use item like a small box. But if you really want some protection on there, you probably want to apply a film-forming finish. A lacquer would be a good choice for something like this and can apply it straight from a rattle can. Varnish is ok too, but you are going to want to seal the wood first with some dewaxed shellac. That will block out the natural oils and allow your varnish to dry.

By: Skip

Skip — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 17:12:52 +0000

Hi Marc – I was re-viewing your Oil-Based Finish video since I an finishing a small box (thanks for the great video). For the main box I am using Arm-R-Seal over some great looking curly maple. The sides of the box are cocobolo. I have read that the best finish for this wood is simply to wax it. What would you suggest?

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:35:02 +0000

There really isn’t any risk of toxicity that I know of once the finish is cured. I’d give an oil-based poly at least a week. But if you are having direct food contact, I would wait until it no longer has an odor (several weeks).

By: ALDI

ALDI — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:46:07 +0000

Hi again, so if I stain my dinning table can I put some of polyurethane gloss on top not risk at all for food poisining after cure, talking about cure how long the polyurethane takes to cure to be safe thanks God blees you.

By: Isaac Merrell

Isaac Merrell — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 04:54:45 +0000

Thanks Marc thats good advice I just browsed for those two books and I definitly liked them better than some of the ones I’ve looked at. Anyway thanks for the tip and I really enjoy the blog!

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:55:34 +0000

Hey Isaac. I think what you need is a more comprehensive review of finishes in general. I would recommend you check out any of Flexner or Jewitt’s finishing books. It will help to put these things into perspective in the broader world of finishing products.

And honestly, the most important thing you can do is pick a finish and stick with it for a while. One failure doesn’t mean try something else. It means try again until you get good at it and keep the process as simple as possible. Avoid staining if you can, at least until you perfect adding the protective coat. And don’t worry about all the other options. Just about any finish will work for a normal piece of furniture.

As for “food safe”, any film finish is food safe when cured. And yes, you can pretty much use any film finish over a cured Minwax stain.

By: Isaac Merrell

Isaac Merrell — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:46:39 +0000

Thanks for the video, it answered a lot of my question, but I still get confused with so many options. For example what is the difference between what you talked about (varnishes, shellac, urethane) and lacquer? Also where do food safe wax finishes fit in? Can I cover those with varnish or shellac. The other thing I wonder is when I use a stain from minwax or something can I just use any of those film finishes or do only certain things go over an oil-based stain.

Sorry for so many questions but I am just getting to the point where I am sick of ruining many of the beautifull things I have built.

By: John Paulling

John Paulling — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 01:11:38 +0000

Thanks for the speedy reply. That’s what I was hoping you would say. I didn’t want to spend the extra $.