Replies

1. 
   Howard_Acheson | May 21, 2001 11:09pm | #1

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   The question to be answered first is what do you consider "Danish Oil" to be? It has never had a true definition other than one of a number of finish applied to commercial furniture popularized in Scandinavian in the late '50's. In most cases that furniture had a sprayed on oil/varnish mixture or a thinned varnish. It was applied very lightly so that the grain and tactile properties of the wood were apparent when felt with the hand. Because of it's thinness, some furniture manufactures supplied a "touchup" bottle or can of "danish oil" composed of whatever they sprayed on. Periodic reapplication built some depth and tended to fill in scratches. Watco took up on this and developed an oil/varnish product that they called "Danish Oil." It's a mixture of vanish resin, mineral spirits, linseed oil and some dryers. Some other products called "Danish Oil" are varnish thinned 50% or so with mineral spirits. This "Danish Oil" is also now called "wiping varnish."

   As to durability, an oil/varnish is slightly more protective than boiled linseed oil or pure tung oil. Because it contains such a high percentage of oil, it does not build well and the first coat will effectively seal the surface when the resins it contains dry preventing further absorbsion. Two, three tops, is about all coats you should use. It has poor resistance to water and water vapor, no heat or scratch resistance and a very soft surface. But, it is easily repaired and gives a nice look to darker wood IMHO.

   Thinned varnish "Danish Oil" is somewhat more protective than an oil/varnish as the product is basicly thinned varnish. Applying two to three coats gives a "close to the wood" finish but somewhat more water and heat resistance.

   So to answer your question, it is at the lower end of the protective and durability scale but the high end of the ease of repair scale.

   Rather than purchasing a "Danish Oil" product, make your own by mixing equal parts of boiled linseed oil, varnish and mineral spirits. You'll have a virtually identical product to Watco.

   BTW, for a couple on interesting articles on this subject go here: http://members.home.net/jdkx2/links.htm and read the articles "Hand Applied Finishes" and Linseed vs "Tung Oil."