I’ve just built a chest of drawers of cherry and I’m at the finishing stage. I plan to use tung oil, except for the insides of the drawers, which will get a few coats of shellac.
Is it necessary, or desirable, to give a coat of tung oil to all the inside parts–web frames, insides of side panels, etc.? Is there any reason to leave these unseen parts unfinished?
I based my chest on the “Contemporary Chest” which is featured in the book Chests of Drawers, by Bill Hylton. This is an excellent book which I would recommend to any woodbutcher like me who needs a new chest of drawers and wants a challenge.
Grant
Replies
There is a very good reason not to put tung oil on those inside locations. The cabinet will smell for months.
No particular reason to finish those parts. Cabinets are stabilized by the joinery and don't need the "finish both sides equally" to keep them square and functional.
Thank you, Steve. That was the answer I was hoping for.
Grant
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