Hello all,
I have been searching for the right answer to this question with no luck.
I need advice on finishing some cabinets,mirrors and desk i have made. The person wanted them to look distressed/reclaimed. I took a lot of time beating,nailing,burning the oak before I assembled everything.
My question is: How should I go about finishing these?
I don’t want a glossy finish. I want a nice deep natural look. I have read about red oak needing to be filled before finishing. Is this true since i don’t care about a perfect smooth finish? mostly I am concerned about is making it look old and reclaimed. I was thinning of using an oil/wax mix? Maybe just a couple coats of minwax? I am lost and have a lot of money tied up in the project and don’t want to make a mess of things. i also don’t have access to any spray equipment and need a quick and easy dummy proof method. I think these work
Replies
You don't need to use a grain filler unless you want a mirror finish. I think oak should be a proletariat wood, full of character and not too dressed up. Minwax antique oil would be a good choice. Simple wipe on, no gloss, looks somewhat like an oil and wax finish but offers good protection. Stripped off layers of paint and used it on this old tool box years ago.
Hammers suggestion to use an oil/varnish mix, such as the Antique Oil,is a good one. It will leave them with an "in-the-wood".
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