Wood, at least if we want it to have a long life, requires protection. There are different products that offer us this necessary protection, for example, oils. This type of finish is not a homogeneous group, there are different types, combinations and compounds to improve/modify its characteristics.
If we had to mention a few common characteristics of oils for wood furniture and other items they would be:
Open pore finish. Oils do not create a superficial layer as varnish does, but rather penetrates the pore of the wood and saturates it, without sealing it.
The resulting surface is neither as resistant nor durable as that offered by varnish.
Satin or matte gloss. The shinier a wood is, the less natural it appears. Therefore, oils, at least the majority, offer a more natural result than other finishes.
Easy application. The application is easy and simple, although the drying times, depending on the oil and its composition, can be long. In addition, renewals are usually quick and easy as well.
Is wood oil or varnish better?
Wood oil is not better or worse than other finishes, such as varnishes or waxes, it is simply a finish with characteristics that make it suitable for some uses, and less so for others.
There is no one product, one type of oil, that is suitable for all situations and under all conditions.
Wood varnish has many drawbacks, among which its strong odor stands out; the cracking that it suffers when the wood is exposed to the outside and the yellowish hue that it takes on over time. Also, not everyone likes the intense shine that it usually leaves, nor the excessively slippery touch.
That's why many people opt for more natural solutions like wood oil or patination wax. These products, unlike varnish, allow the wood to breathe without allowing moisture and dirt to penetrate.
In addition, the wood is nourished thanks to these natural products, extending its life and highlighting its natural beauty. The shine obtained with a wood oil is much softer and more natural than that of a varnish, and the touch is silky and very pleasant.
So the best way to polish unvarnished furniture is to use wood oil.
Types of Wood Oils
In the world of carpentry, oils have been used since time immemorial. This is due, among other things, to the fact that they are of natural origin, offer some protection to the wood and increase its durability and are very easy to apply.
Among the many types of oil that have been used in the sector, two stand out.
Linseed or flax. It is obtained by pressing flax seeds.
Tung. It is obtained from the seeds of the tung tree, native to the Asian continent.
Both oils can be bought pure, 100% natural, or serve as a base for the manufacture of a wide range of products and finishes for the treatment of wood.
In the case of flaxseed, the incorporation of other compounds is especially common. This is because this wood oil can take a long time to cure, and drying agents (manganese, cobalt salts...) are added to it.
Most manufacturers use natural oils as a base and mix them with other compounds with which to modify and/or improve certain characteristics (drying speed, durability, insecticidal and antifungal agents, UV resistance, etc.).
Some of the most common options are:
Teak oil. Combination with oils very focused on the protection of wood outdoors: furniture, coatings, platforms...
Danish oil. Open pore finish, suitable for interior and exterior, although mainly used indoors. It offers a natural-looking result.
Oil-wax or hard wax oil. Wood finish that combines the advantages of oils and waxes. Not suitable for outdoors.
Mineral oil. This type of oil has little or nothing to do with the previous ones in terms of composition. It is a petroleum derivative, highly refined, to the point of being suitable for coming into contact with food and used for the manufacture of medicines. Not suitable to be an exterior wood oil.
These are by no means the only alternatives. There are many more, although normally the denominations are much more generic: oil for exterior wood, oil for wooden furniture, oil for flooring, etc. The key is to see which characteristics have been enhanced in each type of oil and which are the ones we need for the job in which we are going to use it.
It is common, although technically incorrect, to refer to some of these mixtures as varnish.
Main Uses of Wood Oils
It is rare in the field of carpentry where an oil cannot be used, either pure or in combination with other compounds. Platforms, interior and exterior furniture, carpentry, coverings, etc.
Perhaps, it is more appropriate to comment in situations or contexts that are not appropriate.
When not to use wood oil
Natural oils for wood and also the vast majority of derivatives and combinations with other products or resins are finishes that penetrate the wood without forming a surface layer (open pore). Therefore, they offer little or no resistance to abrasion or friction. Knowing this, it is not recommended to use oil on wooden surfaces that are going to have intense use and/or the finish cannot be easily renewed.
For example, it would not be appropriate to use an oil on a kitchen table where things will be constantly being removed and put, liquids will be spilled, cleaning products will be used, etc.
If, as we already mentioned, the result of applying oil on wood is a reduced gloss (between matte and satin), this type of finish is not suitable if we are looking for a high gloss level. p>
Certain oils, especially linseed and those that have linseed as a component, alter the appearance of the wood . The light woods turn yellow and the dark ones seem to have aged. Therefore, if you are looking not to alter the color of the wood, avoid oils such as linseed.
How to Apply Oils to Wood
The basic application is very simple:
The wood is cleaned and/or prepared.
It is spread on the wood with the help of a cloth.
Wait a while for the wood to absorb. Depending on the type of oil, it can be a few minutes or a few hours.
The excess is removed with another cloth.
Drying/curing/polymerizing times depend on the type of oil and its composition.
Stain the wood before applying the oil
You may be interested in applying a stain to the wood before oiling it. It can be done, although we will not achieve the same result with all the dyes. Those dissolved in water or solvents are preferable, that is, those in which the solvent evaporates. Once the stain has dried, we can apply the oil for wooden furniture.
You Can Varnish After You Have Applied an Oil
The clear and short answer is: «it shouldn't«.
In general, what is achieved after applying varnish over oil is reducing the adherence of the varnish, and this reduction will be greater in the cases of varnishes or other water-based finishes. p>
This is not to say that it is not a common practice, in fact, there are people who recommend it. Our recommendation if you are going to do it, is that you at least wait until the oil has dried perfectly, and consider that the varnish layer will last much less than it usually would.
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