Tools & Materials
Tried & True Wood Finishes - Varnish Oil
Tried & True Varnish Oil didn't fare well in several tests of wipe-on finishes.
Aug 01, 2006
The author tested 15 wipe-on finishes, including a water-based finish and both tung-oil and linseed-oil-based finishes. Pure boiled linseed oil and Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane, a brushing finish, were added for comparison. All the finishes were tested on pieces of red-oak plywood cut from the same sheet. Tried & True Varnish Oil stood out as the worst performer. It was hard to apply, had no sheen, offered poor water resistance, and still hadn’t dried after 30 days. It was also more expensive than most.
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Comments
Clearly the author did not read the 'how to apply' directions. We have been using this exclusively for years and love all T&T products - especially in a school setting when toxicity is a real issue.
Yes, I completely agree. I think that this is a great finish IF you follow the directions. Use just a little and rub it in. Let it sit an hour, then wipe the wood again. It shouldn't be left thick on the wood. After three coats, I buff with a buffing wheel and white diamond (for my turnings) and you can indeed get a nice satin to semi-gloss sheen. Such a shame... to poorly review a product because the author didn't read the directions. T&T Varnish is easy to apply, cures well and quickly, and it is very cost effective because it is 100% solids - a little goes a long way because there are no thinners in this varnish.
This has certainly not been my experience with T&T finishes. As already mentioned in comments, it would appear label directions were not followed in this author's tests. Tried & True finishes are the simplest and most fool proof I have found, easy to apply, pleasant to work with, non-toxic, and provide a beautiful satin sheen that is nice to the touch and easily repaired. I've used them exclusively for all my projects for many years and I love the results.
“still hadn’t dried after 30 days” – a clear sign that the application hadn’t been performed to the manufacturer’s guidance.
I’ve been personally really happy with this finish but it must be applied thin; just enough to discolour the wood fibres and you’re in good shape.
This article should really be amended.
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