Hello,
I am new here. I have a red oak project. Making a hook hanger board to be mounted on the wall for coats etc. I have next to no experience finishing red oak with the exception of a red oak long bow I made 10 years ago. For that I just did one coat of tung oil then hand rubbed it with beeswax for water resistance.
I have been working with Pine for a number of years. Building custom bedroom furniture.
I use Danish oil a lot as well as solvent based pigment stains, coloured lacquers and NGR varsol based dye type stains.
With Pine, dark and light danish oils apply very well on untouched mill finished wood. You get a nice grain revealing finish. If you sand pine and apply dark walnut danish oil, it basically colours the wood consistently but very very dark. Almost as dark as the raw oil in the can.
My question:
How does Red Oak react with danish oil, sanded wood surface too straight from the mill unsanded?
Basically I’m looking for an idea of what will happen so I don’t need to start over.
Also, any suggestions on diffrent finishes that will showcase the oaks natural beauty?
Replies
I wouldn't dream of trying a new finish or a new wood without trying a few practice boards first. Test a few finishes and see what you like. Before I settled on some routines, I labeled and dated the practice boards for future reference.
I recently used Watco natural on oak and thought it looks great.
Color preferences aside I doubt you will have issues with Watco in oak. But certainly test it first. It sounds like you have a few cans of Watco already anyway.
Mike
Your plan is good. Just do test boards first. No matter what we tell you here, you need to see your finish choices on your material to make a sure decision.
My choice finishing a red oak hanging cabinet in the bathroom was first a golden tone Shellac which brings out the beautiful red oak grain and seals at the same time. For the topcoat (2) Poly Urethane provided the needed water proofing for the bathroom humidity, etc. Good luck