I have a butcher block table that’s been in the family for many years (+20). It was previously finished with Watco oil, but I don’t recognize the type. The labels says – “Watco Satin Oil Maintenance” and elsewhere on the can – “Lemon Oil Enriched”. I want to refresh the finish on the table and buff out some stains/scratches. However, I don’t want to sand the whole table to bare wood and then apply a finish.
So – the QUESTIONS – 1) I don’t see this oil anywhere – does anybody recognize this and is it still made? 2) If I can’t get this finish, can I just add a different finish on top of this one? Maybe Watco’s butcher block oil?
Thanks – appreciate the help.
-Alan
Replies
Watco has long had a product called Satin Wax, marketed as being desirable to use over oil finishes, such as their core product, Danish Oil, which is an oil/varnish mix. It appears to be just a bit of paraffin wax dissolved in lots of mineral spirits. Not much of a finish.
Watco also markets Rejuvenating Oil which appears just to be another variant of oil/varnish mix. How it differs from the Danish Oil isn't clear to me. This sounds a bit more like the marketing claims of the product you mention.
The Butcher Block Oil and Finish is also an oil/varnish mix, though in this case the MSDS tells us the resin is a "long-oil alkyd", and that it also contains tung oil, along with the usual large amounts of mineral spirits.
I'm assuming this isn't actually used as a chopping board. While not hazardous, some people object to the minute fragments of an oil/varnish mix that would result and go with a non-curing finish such as mineral oil or mineral oil with a bit of paraffin wax.
Other wise, I'd just use any oil/varnish mix to freshen the finish--matching brand or precise variety will not matter. First clean the table well, using both mineral spirits to remove any oil soluble dirt (which would include any wax), and with water to remove water soluble dirt. Use lots of rags, to avoid smearing around dirt, but to remove it instead.
By the way, even if applying a new finish were the order of the day, which it isn't here, removing old oil based finish is best done with chemical stripper, not sanding.
Thanks Steve - that was a very informative answer. Thanks for the tip regarding the use of a chemical stripper rather than sanding as well. I have some Watco Danish Oil at home, which I might try out. If not, I'll go with the rejuvenating oil you mentioned.
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