Choosing the right wood finishes can seem difficult.

Clear Wood Finishes

Choosing the right clear wood finishes can seem difficult.

There is a wide array of clear protective finishes on the market.

As you walk through the painting section of any home improvement center, you will be inundated by dozens of wood finishes, all of them claiming to be the best.

Fortunately choosing a clear wood finish isn't as confusing as it seems.

The variety of clear protective wood finishes you will encounter around your home is rather limited. The major problem is trying to figure out what kind of clear finish you have.

In order to refinish any woodwork you will need to know what type of finish is on the woodwork. Not all clear wood finishes are compatible with each other. Every manufacture has there own formulations. This can be a problem.

Good rules to follow are;

Tung and linseed oil can be applied over them selves but not over anything else.

A good wood varnish can be applied over polyurethane, lacquer, water base finishes and any other film forming finish.

Polyurethane must be applied over itself only.

When in doubt use a high quality wood varnish.

Oak mantel.

Many wood finishes are available in a wide range if sheens and suitable for many different environments. Each type has its own merits.

Choosing the best wood finish for your project involves understanding the environmental conditions the wood will be subjected to and the amount of abrasion resistance you need.

Tung Oil and Linseed Oil are called drying oils. This type of wood sealer can take a long time to dry to the touch. Linseed oil can take days in most cases and remain rather soft for a very long time. Typical use is outside; example would be a log home.
Applying linseed oil is easy although messy. Tung oil has been used for centuries and is an excellent wood sealer for interior and many exterior wood surfaces. Applying tung oil is very simple with maintenance being as easy as applying another coat.

Varnish is similar to the drying oils but have specialized resins that provide faster drying and a much harder finish. These are available in a wide array of sheens and degrees of hardness.
Plus, some varieties are great for exterior use. Most applications are a multi-step process. Applying varnish produces a tough film on the surface of the wood.

Polyurethane is very popular now days. Available everywhere and not to expensive. This finish is best suited for new wood applications.
Basically this wood finish is a plastic coating, with interior and exterior uses. Some kinds can also be tinted for special effects. Applying polyurethane is the same as varnish, needing a few steps to do it right.

Lacquer is a common interior wood finish. Can be purchased in varying degrees of hardness.
Typically this is a spray only finish. Spraying lacquer will require some finesse. Brushing lacquers are rarely used today with so many other alternatives.

Acrylic Urethane is rather new to the market. Best suited for interior use, but exterior varieties are now being produced.

I like this type of finish. It doesn�t smell bad and dries fast. The best part is it cleans up with soap and water. Usually takes a few coats to achieve a good film thickness. Applying acrylic urethane is easy, can be brushed or sprayed.

Catalyzed finishes are a little different than anything else you will ever encounter. These are 2 part wood finishes that are difficult to use. Usually very hard and durable.
Rarely used by the do-it-yourselfer, but still a good choice for wood surfaces that need extra protection and abrasion resistance.

Clear wood finishes are both beautiful and tuff. Providing a high degree of chemical and abrasion resistance.

All act as a wood sealer, protecting the wood fibers from water and cleaning chemicals.

They can be applied to a wide range of materials, including stained windows, doors, trim and furniture.

Although the intended uses for each is somewhat different, all of these wood finishes will provide a high degree of beauty to any wood surface.

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