Did you know that most any oil based varnish or polyurethane
can also be used as a wipe on finish? It's true!
Wipe on finishes are much easier to use than those that
require us to learn how to manipulate a brush or spray
gun. But many wipe on finishes are simply ultra thin versions
of varnish loaded with lots of mineral spirits.
That means they offer very little protection per coat,
and may take many coats to get any substantial coverage.
To make matters worse, some will "bleed" out of the grain
of large pore woods, like oak and ash, leaving small, hard
beads of finish that create a decidedly rough surface.
Now, don't get me wrong - there are also some very good
polyurethanes that are sold specifically as wipe ons, some
of which are in a thick, easy-to-use gel form. My favorite
of these is Polyurethane
Gel, available from Rockler. However, these are often
not well distributed, and may be hard to find in the local
home store.
Instead, buy a can of your favorite oil based polyurethane
varnish and simply flood it on and wipe it off. I like
to use Scotch-brite T to apply it and a shop towel to wipe
off. On flat surfaces, you can simply wipe it on carfully
and evenly with a rag. If the one you have chosen dries
too fast, add a bit of boiled linseed oil to slow it down
and make it easier to manipulate. It will look as good
and be just as easy to use as "Danish oil," but will give
you more build per coat and more protection.
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