Oil-based finishes are typically the first type of finish we confront as woodworkers, be it straight oil or a can polyurethane. Although they are all derived from oil, these finishes can vary widely in terms of application method, durability, and maintenance. The key to understanding these finishes is to understand their ingredients. With that foundation in your tool belt, you can start looking at ingredients lists instead of brand names and labels, and you’ll know exactly what to expect from the finish. Since this is a live session, we have a bunch of viewer questions in the video as well.
Topics include:
What is oil?
What is varnish?
What is the relationship between varnish and polyurethane?
The relative durability of oils, varnishes, and oil/varnish blends.
How to see past marketing jargon.
Why I like Arm-R-Seal.
Products discussed in the video:
General Finishes Arm-R-Seal
Rockler's Tung Oil
Timbermate Wood Filler
Tru-Oil
-- For free video tutorials and other cool woodworking stuff, check out http://www.TheWoodWhisperer.com
8 comments so far
rozzi
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309 posts in 1518 days
#1 posted 1294 days ago
Marc, Another good one. Keep them coming.
-- Duane, Iowa
Bob A in NJ
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1104 posts in 2195 days
#2 posted 1294 days ago
Marc,
I agree, another excellent video, very informative. Thanks!
Bob
-- Bob A in NJ
dustyal
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1128 posts in 1672 days
#3 posted 1294 days ago
Just what I needed, a very basic, factual explanation. Thank you.
-- Al H. - small shop, small projects...
rsladdwoodworks
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311 posts in 1365 days
#4 posted 1294 days ago
like the new shop and the video was good I learnd a lot
-- Robert Laddusaw and no I am not smarter then a fifth grader ( and no I canot spell so if it is a problem don't read it ))
woodworm
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14105 posts in 1787 days
#5 posted 1294 days ago
Great info.
Thanks fo sharing.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Scott Bryan
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27253 posts in 2018 days
#6 posted 1294 days ago
Marc, this was an excellent video that addresses a lot of confusion that exists over oil base finishes. For anyone who would like more information on this I would recommend Bob Flexner’s book, Understanding Wood Finishing.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
TopamaxSurvivor
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13179 posts in 1872 days
#7 posted 1288 days ago
Great video Marc. My wife says the drawers of our bedrom set leave a wood smell in her clothes. I’m not sure what kind of wood. It’s an oak set and I suspect popular, but not sure. She wants to seal them with Varathane. Will that work or should we get some shellac?
-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
thewoodwhisperer
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585 posts in 2380 days
#8 posted 1288 days ago
Well Varathane can be oil or water-based, so it depends on which product you are using. I would say no to oil-based, and yes to water-based. But shellac is a great option too. Probably the least likely to retain an odor at all.
-- For free video tutorials and other cool woodworking stuff, check out http://www.TheWoodWhisperer.com
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