Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Aug 12, 2005 06:22pm | #1

   Any type of finish can be applied over a "Danish Oil" providing it is fully dry. For shellac and an oil based finish, wait 4-5 days. For lacquer, wait two weeks.

   A couple of coats of wipe on poly varnish would give you a nice durable finish for something like a desk. Let it fully cure for 3-4 weeks before writing on it. It takes that long to develop full adhesion and hardness.

   Howie.........
2. 
   WillGeorge | Aug 12, 2005 08:58pm | #2

   Any type of finish can be applied over a "Danish Oil"

   I'd use nothing.. Ever wonder 'WHY' the old timers put leather on the writing surface...???

1. 
   Jimma | Aug 12, 2005 09:41pm | #3

   Umm -- I give up. Why?

1. 
   WillGeorge | Aug 14, 2005 06:14pm | #5

   Sorry for the late reply...To keep from markin' up the nice finish???

1. 
   Jimma | Aug 14, 2005 10:08pm | #8

   Could be, especially with those scratchy quill points!

1. 
   WillGeorge | Aug 17, 2005 09:40pm | #11

   Could be, especially with those scratchy quill points!

   THAT WAS ZFUNNY!

3. 
   forestgirl | Aug 13, 2005 07:28pm | #4

   "A couple of coats of wipe on poly varnish would give you a nice durable finish for something like a desk."  Yes!  I would certainly use poly over shellac for this purpose, you need a more durable finish than shellac.

   I tend to be extra careful about curing times with the Danish Oil and go about a week before puting on the top coat.  Probably overkill.........

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   Piffin | Aug 14, 2005 06:25pm | #6

   not overkill at all, depending on temp and humidity. The oil doesn't dry, it cures, by oxygen. if it gets sealed aaway from contact with oxygen, it quits curing. Sometimes conditions can require a few weeks cure time before topcoating. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   Kevin | Aug 14, 2005 09:46pm | #7

   Minwax has two general dry/cure times for applying protective finishes over their Oil stain, which is basically a Danish Oil stain. Either 8 or 24 hour minimum depending on the chosen finish.

   http://www.minwax.com/products/woodstain/woodfinish-direct.cfm

   I've used lacquer over a variety of oil stains without any problems as long as the stain had a minimum of 24 hours to cure first. One time I had a finish fail several months down the road where I had only waited a few hours before spraying lacquer over a Watco oil stain. I'd warned the owner that the finish could fail, but he wanted it done ASAP. He later blamed it all on me. LOL

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 15, 2005 12:46am | #9

   "He later blamed it all on me. LOL"  Sounds about right.  Sheesh!

   I've used mostly Watco, and I let it dry quite a long time.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

4. 
   CharlieStanford | Aug 15, 2005 07:07pm | #10

   I love oil finishes but on a writing table you will need a top coat.

   Shellac over well-cured Watco ought to be fine.  Varnish if you enjoy a cocktail while you use the desk.  Let the Watco cure for three weeks before topcoating.

   
   

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   Edited 8/15/2005 12:17 pm ET by ProWoodworker