3 coats of Danish Oil, now what??


dooley

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I am very new to finishing so looking for some advice...

 

I have a walnut table that will be used in the kitchen with 3 messy kids so it will get lots of use.

 

After reading posts and trying a few finishes, I decided to go with Danish Oil in Dark Walnut.

 

I've put on 3 coats with at least 24 hours of drying between -  Wet sanding the first coat only.  I am happy with the color - it feels very smooth to the touch.  Should I stop here or add another coat?

 

So now what?  I am not sure if I should use a wipe on poly or wax finish for maximum protection.

 

I don't want a glossy finish - I prefer the satin look.

 

Thanks so much for the advice!

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Yeah, I'd give it at least 48 hours if not 72 from your last coat of Danish oil and put on arm-r-seal or some sort of wipe on poly. Just get a satin finish and stir the can well before applying. A kitchen table in a house with kids is going to take a lot of abuse so you'll want to protect it well. A catalyzed lacquer would be good too if you have spray gear.

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I have a shelf in my bathroom that only has Watco Danish oil on it. It gets a hot mug of coffee on it every morning for 20+ years. Often spills get cleaned up that evening . Other than scrubbing it with a ScotchBrite pad and re oiling it every 3 or 4 years it gets no attention, no poly, no wax, nothing.

It's not a high sheen finish and a kitchen table subjected to kids may need more frequent attention but the ease of repair/ maintenance is the big plus for me.

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Thanks so much for your responses and advice.

 

My biggest concern is water marks - I don't always get to them right away.

 

Which finish is the best to protect against these?  My concern with poly is that I will need to resand to refinish again - it sounds like a painful process.  Will the wax help with the watermarks or is it better to leave it and just wipe with a coat of danish oil periodically?

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Try the watco dark wax which is what they intend for their oil. It does not feel like a traditional wax and is easy to reapply. It's not as thick or hard as poly but looks great and offers a bit more protection. However not sure if enough for a high use kitchen table.....

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Try the watco dark wax which is what they intend for their oil. It does not feel like a traditional wax and is easy to reapply. It's not as thick or hard as poly but looks great and offers a bit more protection. However not sure if enough for a high use kitchen table.....

MSDS says it is thinners and paraffin waxes.

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General finishes high-performance waterbase sprays on and sticks just fine, after about a month for the Danish oil to cure.

Edit: yeah, you'll need to finish again, per your concern...but with the exception of undoing all that hard work you put in with the wet sanding..you'll just need to scuff up a wee bit before adding the finish.

At least with water base, you can apply every hour or so and finish in a day...I did mine right in the kitchen (brushed, not sprayed)

A flat surface like a table top brushes on easily too with a nice synthetic brush, if you don't have a sprayer.

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