Which Wood Finish Is Best? Oil, Lacquer or Wax? - Knowledge Base (2024)

FAQs

What is the best coating for wood finish? ›

Polyurethane wood finishes are synthetic coatings that are highly durable and water resistant, making them the best clear coat for wood protection.

This means that hard wax oils can often appear to give a more natural finish in comparison to lacquers. The advantage of using a Lacquered finish is its mechanical and chemical resistance - making lacquers low maintenance. Normal cleaning with a brush or vacuum cleaner will help to remove any surface debris.

Wax won't provide the wood enhancement that the oil does. The tung oil offers a richer finish and seeps into the grain to create a glossy sheen. You might also consider Danish oil for an ongoing project, but that and tung oil create vastly different finishes.

Polyurethane. Polyurethane is the most durable option for indoor woodworking projects.

What you want to go for is a finish that is known as “water-white”. This means that when it dries on the surface of the wood, it won't bring any color to the party. Just about any water-based finish fits into this category. There are also water-white lacquers that work very well.

Although lacquer dries faster, is easier to apply, and has minimal maintenance, polyurethane is the top choice of many people in terms of longevity because it is more durable than lacquer. Polyurethane has additives that make it more resistant to moisture, sun rays, and abrasion.

Oil Finish

The biggest advantage of oil over lacquer, is that it provides a deeper defence, penetrating the wood. While it's inevitable that the external layer of the wood will wear over time, opting for an oil varnish will help maintain the knots and layers beneath.

Wax is most often used as the final step for a premium film finish, whether it is shellac, lacquer, or varnish.

The wax is easily worn off, is easily damaged by high heat (such as a cup of tea), provides very little protection to water vapor, and requires re-application every year or so. Because of these limitations, wax is almost never used as a primary finish but is instead used to complement other finishes.

What does oil finish do to wood? ›

How does it work? Wood oils penetrate the timber, replacing and replenishing the wood's natural oils to add protection. Through the exposure to elements as well as age and wear, wood oils can revive wood surfaces to their natural colour which provides them with a new lease of life.

You don't need to use wax; paint or varnish often provide the same protections. More often than not, people use wax because it protects the wood while leaving a natural finish. Wax is great for drawing out the natural features of your wood, highlighting all the knots and bumps and colouring that makes your wood unique.

Products containing danish, linseed, teak and tung oil are popular choices for a beautiful, waterproofed finish. Many of the internal wood finishes you'll find commercially available will have a mixture of oil, polyurethane and mineral spirits to improve the application process and drying times.

Use an oil-based polyurethane and a foam or natural bristle brush. Oil-based polyurethane in a satin sheen is an excellent all-purpose clear coat that is relatively easy to apply.

Natural oils for waterproofing wood include linseed oil, tung oil, and Danish oil. Danish oil is a blend of tung oil and varnishes. Oils can be brushed on or wiped on with a cloth. Oils have a short re-coat time and are usually ready to be touched soon after.

Always sand between coats with 320 grit sandpaper to get a smooth finish. Wipe off the dust with a tack rag before applying the second coat. If adding a third layer of finish or more, be sure to sand and clean off saw dust in between coats.

Here's the crucial step to getting a super smooth wood finish: sand between your finish coats! Apply your finish of choice (my go-to is wipe-on poly!) and allow it to dry for the recommended time (usually a couple of hours). Once dry, grab some 320 grit sandpaper, and lightly sand the finish by hand.

Using a clean natural-bristle or long-grained brush and working quickly, apply the sealer evenly across the wood. Give plenty of time for the sealant to soak in, then remove any excess sealer from the wood's surface with a clean, dry cloth. Some woods will require multiple coats of sealer.