The author tested 15 wipe-on finishes, including a water-based finish and both tung-oil and linseed-oil-based finishes. Pure boiled linseed oil and Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane, a brushing finish, were added for comparison. All the finishes were tested on pieces of red-oak plywood cut from the same sheet. The Hydrocote Danish Oil Finish looks milky in the bottle but dries in 24 hours to a clear, flat finish. It’s easy to apply but difficult to remove and offers poor water resistance. The author gives this product the ugly award, saying that the oak panel with this finish had a bleached-out appearance.

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