White Oak Table Finish

Things you will need.

White oak table finish.

Check out the recipes that make use of these techniques in 4 proven oak finishes below. Wet glasses leave behind white rings. A 180 grit final sanding may neutralize this contrast. An application of varnish or lacquer or shellac might look nice at first but there is a better way.

The piece on the right was first finished with a coat of clear danish oil then it has 3 coats of sanding sealer and 3 coats of lacquer. As the table dries after wet sanding a white residue will appear. And then there are all the little scratches dents and divots that mysteriously appear on wood surfaces. Daily use wears away the finish on the edges of tables and chairs.

Residue left in the grain lines of coarse grain wood will be trapped under the final coat and haunt you forever. In this article i ll highlight some key finishing tips and techniques used to create the multilayered finishes that bring out the best in oak. The best finishes for oak celebrate its grain. Because of oak s cellular structure the pigments in oil based stains collect more in the wood s open grain areas while the smoother denser surrounding areas retain less.

The following slides show the look of red oak with various finishes. Clean off the white stuff. When you want a clear or natural finish on quarter sawn white oak beware. This can result in strong light dark contrasts.