I built the child shaker step stool (issue #266) and have added four coats of danish oil on it. I’m having second thoughts about just having the danish oil only and was thinking of adding a varnish top coat. My question is if can directly add the varnish to the oil or should I lay on a coat of shellac first?
I was looking to use General Finishes gel clear satin.
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I dont know, but if it were me, I wouldn't gamble. I would hand sand with 220 or 320, coat of Sealcoat, top coat. I like General Finishes High Performance, but that's just my topcoat of choice.
I think that's a water based finish. With that much danish oil I would let it dry for a at least 4-5 days and put a coat of shellac on in between. You could also use an oil based finish like Arm-R-Seal or Waterlox and just apply it directly with no issues.
The oil has been drying for 10+ days now. I'll go with the shellac in between. It can't hurt.
Thank you both.
If the varnish is oil based, you are good to go. The two finishes are compatible. If the varnish is water based, advice above is good. My choice would be to use the oil based varnish; less chance of problems.
Use Minwax Antique Oil -- it'll build a surface coat and you should be able to go over the Watco. Antique oil has more varnish resins but goes on like Watco until you hit about the third application where you will get actual surface build on most species, but not a gloppy gym floor kind of thing. As always, try any new finishing routine on project scrap first.
Garrett Hack's formula of equal parts boiled linseed oil, pure gum spirits turpentine, and Helmsman brand spar urethane (clear gloss) is also a good finish.
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