I bought an unfinished oak table from Costco a month or so ago, and it
had a small set of instructions with it for choosing the eventual
finish.

I've lost this bit of paper, but if I remember correctly it said leave
it unfinished for a natural aged oak finish (ie stains and all) or use
this tiny bottle of oil they gave me with it to finish it off, and
something about sanding.

How should I seal the table to prevent water/wine/food stains etc from
ruining it?  Should I use any particular oil other than the one
supplied (which I don't know what it is?).  Someone mentioned using a
clear danish oil.  Some people say sand/coat/sand/coat ad infinitum.

Any advice?

Alan wrote:

> I bought an unfinished oak table from Costco a month or so ago,


Don't leave it unfinished. Oak is very prone to "iron stain", which is
a very dark and permanent stain and also somewhat prone to plain old
water staining.

Your choice of finish is (as always) a compromise between resistance to
hard wear as a table, work to apply it, and finished appearance.
Although I'm generally a very light finisher, for a table I would tend
towards a hard-wearing modern poly-based varnish. If you use a wiped-on
finish rather than a brushed-on finish, then you can get a good strong
finish without the "plastic top" effect of many poly varnishes. If
you're in the UK then try Patina from Screwfix, if you're in the USA
then use Minwax.

dingbat@codesmiths.com wrote:

> Alan wrote:
> > I bought an unfinished oak table from Costco a month or so ago,

> Don't leave it unfinished. Oak is very prone to "iron stain", which is
> a very dark and permanent stain and also somewhat prone to plain old
> water staining.


I'd agree with this advice but not use varnish.   Our oak table used to
be spray varnished and eventually this chips when stuff is dropped on
it or the oak 'moves'.  Then the table stains in the uncovered areas.

We then stripped and oiled it.  It's now wipe clean and stain resistant
but minor stains and knocks are adding character.  A light sand and
coat of oil every year or so is needed but that's it.  first time round
a couple of coats woudl be a good idea.

Strangely enough we've found Ikea's worktop oil to be both cheap and
easy to use - it dries quickly.  Proper 'tung' oil takes forever and
gives a darker finish.

wrote in message 
news:1125491709.865321.192490@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>

>
> Strangely enough we've found Ikea's worktop oil to be both cheap and
> easy to use - it dries quickly.  Proper 'tung' oil takes forever and
> gives a darker finish.
>

I thought tung oil was only used for vessels and plates which would have 
food in or on them.

Mary

Mary Fisher wrote:


> I thought tung oil was only used for vessels and plates which would have
> food in or on them.


Tung oil is the main ingredient in most "finishing oils". It doesn't
yellow with age anything like as much as linseed does, and it's an
easier oil to work with.

I wouldn't recommend pure tung oil to anyone inexperienced with oil
finishes. Use a commercial blended finishing oil (like Liberon's) which
is far easier to use. Almost all oils you might find are food-safe,
once cured.

b33k34@hotmail.com wrote:


> We then stripped and oiled it.  It's now wipe clean and stain
> resistant but minor stains and knocks are adding character.  A light
> sand and coat of oil every year or so is needed but that's it.  first
> time round a couple of coats woudl be a good idea.


Oil is definately the way to go with oak.  Easy to apply & recoat if you 
need to.  I've always used Colouron's Antique Oil.

>
> Strangely enough we've found Ikea's worktop oil to be both cheap and
> easy to use - it dries quickly.  Proper 'tung' oil takes forever and
> gives a darker finish.


Always wondered about that stuff - does it give fair water resistance?

Dave

On 31 Aug 2005 00:55:08 -0700, "Alan"  wrote:


>I bought an unfinished oak table from Costco a month or so ago, and it
>had a small set of instructions with it for choosing the eventual
>finish.
>
>I've lost this bit of paper, but if I remember correctly it said leave
>it unfinished for a natural aged oak finish (ie stains and all) or use
>this tiny bottle of oil they gave me with it to finish it off, and
>something about sanding.
>
>How should I seal the table to prevent water/wine/food stains etc from
>ruining it?  Should I use any particular oil other than the one
>supplied (which I don't know what it is?).  Someone mentioned using a
>clear danish oil.  Some people say sand/coat/sand/coat ad infinitum.
>
>Any advice?


Imade my own oak table, we finisished it with 4 or 5 coats of danish
oil, and it looks fantastic. We have not stained it yet.

Rick