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Could anyone please give me some advice on the best finish for a Meranti table. It is nearly 20 years old. Originally I put matt coats and then a Scandinavian oil (I think!). It has weathered the 7 children rather well ovewr the years! However, the time has come to rejuvinate it. Can I strip it -rub a Danish oil into it (3 0r 4 coats?) -and leave it at that? Or complete it with a low-sheen varnish? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Bil
Firstly you do need to strip/sand it back before refinishing it.
Oil and oil mixture finishes such as Danish oil look and feel great but won't protect the timber from marks/spills etc as well as varnishes/lacquers/polyurethanes/estapol will. But these don't look or feel as natural.
It's a trade off, between protection and look/feel. Your original finish could be a good way to go; rubbing a varnish/lac etc finish with Scandinavian oil or similar gives good protection and a nice satiny feel.
Meranti could also be a bit soft and open grained for Danish oil or similar finishes. I suspect these products suit harder closer grained timbers better.
Many thanks Rusty. I hope you don't mind me asking a couple more quick ones. I really have no idea.
Is this correct:
1. After stripping the table back I apply two (or three?) coats of a low-sheen varnish (Cabothane matt-low-sheen)?
2. Then I apply a Scandinavian oil and rub it in (how many times should I do this?)
Instead of a Scandinavian oil could I use Cabots Danish Oil?
Many thanks
Bil
I suggest you use Scandinavian teak oil (if it's still available, I haven't used it for some years) with the estapol/urethane the instructions advises you to. When I used it I think a matt estapol base was recommended.
The same goes for Danish oil. The can should tell you what base it is best used with, if any. Perhaps this product is best used as a finish on its own.
Number of base coats (2 or 3) depends on how well it has built up.
Whatever base and oil you use it is probably a good idea to leave the final base coat for a week to thoroughly dry and harden before oiling.
When you apply the Scan oil you are not so much rubbing it in as polishing the estapol. The can should tell you how to do this.
Hope this is some help. Get ready for other postings contradicting the above!
Thank you so much for this Rusty. I will follow your advice -but would appreciate any other comments whatsoever as I really am a little concerned.
Regards
Bil