danish oil

Re: danish oil

Barbara Gill, Remlik Virginia

>I use a different oil which is similar to a danish oil. Depending upon the wood I use 2-4 coats. After it has cured I buff with the Beall System. The result is a finish smooth as velvet with a wonderful glow.

Re: danish oil *LINK*

RevDoug

>More coats. I've had to put on as many as 12 coats before a shine began to form. Feel free to email if you have further questions.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug


Wood Spun Round

Re: danish oil

Guest

>Deft Danish Oil is just a varnish with some oil (thankfully not extracted from Danes though) added. "Danish Oil" is really just a marketing term and can be applied to many different brands of finishes whether they have the words "Danish Oil" in them or not.

In essence, it's a film finish (varnish, poly, etc.) with an oil of some kind (usually a cheap one like more Soy and less so with something like Boiled Linseed and rarely with Pure Tung) added to it. It'll have some solvent like mineral spirits to get it to the right consistency. You can add more solvent to it so it'll wipe on easier if that's how you apply it.

"Danish Oils" being what they are, don't build up too quickly as they are suppose to penetrate the wood (but not terribly much). Not nearly like just Varnish or a Polyurethane, or other film building finish by itself. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as many like that in-the-wood type of finish.

You can increase the shine with this kind of finish by simply reapplying more coats. This does NOT mean, however, that you just slap more of the stuff on there at once. hehe

What is often recommended is to thin the Danish Oil you have just a little with a solvent (mineral spirits is fine unless you know what the solvent is that they used). This makes it easier to apply by hand. Really slap a bunch on there the first time you apply finish to that piece. Let it really take as much of it as it'll take. Wait about 15 minutes until it just starts to feel tacky. Wipe it all off. Wait several hours to a day. Do it again (it'll take much less of the finish as it's starting to fill up the wood). Wait and do it again. Continue until you get the level of shine that you want. I usually do 3 coats minimum. Sometimes 5 - 8 or more for a good shine. Wait until you are positive it has all cured and then buff with wax to get an even better shine.

I like these "Danish Oils" (or "Maloof-type finish" as I was exposed to them) because you can adjust the level of shine and film-build as you like just by applying more. Of course, it takes time to do that.

If you're wanting to just go straight to SHINE, then use a real film building finish like straight (or thinned with appropriate solvent to make it easier to spray or wipe) Polyurethane, Lacquer or Acrylics, etc. That's the plastic-looking stuff though.

Of course, then there are the friction polishes ... but that's for another discussion. hehe

Re: danish oil

Doug Trembath

>Sounds like you all have a real family affair going here, Missy!

The best advice I have for you is to carefully sand in increasing grit numbers until the wood is polished on it's own, then begin to apply your finish. It's much like painting a car, in that the real work is in preparation of the surface for a quality job.

If you use Danish Oil, (and they're mostly alike, by the way, simply thinned finishes to allow them to be wiped on), it is important for longevity to apply multiple coats and leveling the surface at least every second or third coat, depending on the thickness of each coat. I have found that when you just put on a coat or two, the finish will, over time, deteriorate. A heavier film in the end will serve the work much better.

In order to really get a smooth, glossy finish, consider obtaining a buffing system to really polish the finish, then apply Carnauba wax that comes with the kit. No better final finish, and it provides the "feels so good" feedback you'll really enjoy.

Again, it's great that you're supporting his efforts. When can we expect to hear about your own woodturning?

Take care,

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods