Had to decide between a spray finish or a wipe-on for a 1920s oak dresser in my shop

Went with a hand-rubbed oil finish to keep the character, but it took three full days to cure properly. Anyone have a faster method that still looks this good on old wood?

4 comments

4 Comments

ruby_henderson366d ago

Try a modern gel finish next time.

blair_taylor321mo ago

Three days to cure? That's actually pretty fast for a hand-rubbed oil on old oak. @victor779 is right, you can't rush this stuff. I had a piece once that took a full week before it was ready for the next coat. Trying to speed it up just makes it look cheap and gummy. The wait is the whole point of getting that deep, real look.

victor7791mo ago

Is three days really that big of a deal for a piece that old? A good finish takes time, and rushing it seems like a bad trade. You probably got the best result by just waiting.

kai4451mo ago

Read a piece once about how old finishes need extra time to cure right. Rushing can mess up the whole look.