PROJECTS ONLINE: APPLYING AND RESTORING OIL-BASED WOOD FINISHES
Project Difficulty:
Easy Estimated
Project Time: Varies with size and drying time
Tools and Materials:
Work gloves
Boiled linseed oil or tung oil
Tack cloth
Clean cotton cloths
220-grit sandpaper or #0000 steel wool
The two most common oils used as finishes by the do-it-yourselfer are boiled linseed oil and tung oil. Boiled linseed oil is linseed oil to which metallic driers have been added. The addition of the driers greatly improves the drying time of the linseed oil, which in its raw form takes a week or longer to cure.
1.
Applying an Oil-Based Finish
1) Before applying finish, prepare and stain wood as necessary. Then, using a tack cloth, wipe the surfaces, removing all traces of dust. Work in a well-ventilated area.
2) Using a clean cotton cloth, wipe the oil onto the surface, making sure to cover all areas uniformly. Reapply to any areas that appear dry.
3) Allow the oil to soak in and penetrate the wood for the amount of time noted on package label (about 15 minutes, usually), and then wipe away any excess.
4) Allow the surface to cure (boiled linseed oil can cure overnight; tung oil takes longer).
5) When the finish has hardened, lightly sand or steel-wool the surface, using 220-grit sandpaper or #0000 steel wool, and then use a tack cloth to remove all dust before applying the next coat.
6) Repeat Steps 2 through 5, applying as many coats as necessary to achieve the desired finish (about 3 coats with boiled linseed oil, 5 or 6 for tung oil). The first coats of tung oil tend to cure with a rough finish; carefully sand every coat but the last.
2.
Restoring an Oil-Based Finish
Although oil finishes are not especially protective, they are nonetheless the easiest to repair when they become scratched or dull. Simply wipe on another coat of oil and wipe off the excess. You can match oils without any fear that the color will change. If the surface of the existing finish feels rough, just lightly scuff sand it before applying the new coat. (Fig.1)
