Almost done with a pair of black cherry nightstands. I would have gone with just Danish oil (which is all I’ve ever finished with since I began doing real woodworking), but recently read in one of the forums that like three coats of BLO is good on cherry. Is there a recommended/highly regarded brand out there, or will off-the-shelf at HD be as good as any? Thanks in advance, all.
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Replies
BLO has no magic properties. It will help darken cherry a bit faster than Danish oil, but otherwise won't look much different, though it will protect from water spotting and the like quite a bit less. If you want, one coat of BLO followed by a couple of Danish oil will give virtually indistiquishable appearance from three coats of BLO, except for the water spots.
Frankly, I doubt that if you do three coats of BLO on one piece of scrap, and three coats of Danish oil on another that you will be able to tell them apart a week later unless you label them.
All BLO is pretty much the same. The finish you intend to use will have to be renewed periodicaly (once or twice a year) and will offer no protection to the wood. The danish oil you have used in the past is more than just oil. It is usually a blend of oil and varnish that offers more protection that just oil.
sykesville,
oils have no real lasting properties and must periodically be renewed..
Have you looked at shellac? Like oils it can be applied with a rag and if you do the french polish technique it produces a finish second to none in duribility and depth!
Plus it makes the grain and pattern of wood just burst out!
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