White Oak Wood Finish

Teak would be even better.

White oak wood finish.

White oak s tan color under a clear finish may seem too cold for many woodworkers but all clear film finishes will do if applied in thin coats. We have an excellent blog post about white wood finishes here which covers this subject in detail. I know i know it s blasphemous to imagine painting quartersawn oak but it still deserves mention that paint is a durable economical choice for outdoor projects made of wood. White oak is not difficult to paint to a smooth finish so long as it is well sanded.

It doesn t absorb the paint nearly as much as red oak as its grain is much tighter. It includes details on which products to use to achieve everything from a subtle. It has great wear resistance. Whatever you choose though the good news about white oak is that it resists rot and insects well so regardless of the finish or your diligence in maintaining it.

A good finish should highlight the best characteristics of the wood it goes on. Deciding on the right finish. The wood dries slowly but stains to a good finish. I ve put together four finish recipes that make the most of oak s contrasting grain.

See our selection of quarter sawn white oak lumber since so many folks frequently want an easy finish that comes in just one can but will also provide a heck of a result the secret budget friendly answer is in a can of. Four proven finishes for oak. In this video we demonstrate 3 nice ways to finish quarter sawn white oak to get the best pop from the figure. A walnut colored danish oil oil varnish blend penetrates nicely and adds an even color similar to dyed wood.

It would hold up without a finish for decades at a minimum. First to address the wood. Physical properties white oak is a hard and heavy wood with a medium bending and crushing strength low in stiffness but very good in steam bending. Many woodworkers prefer to finish oak as minimally as possible as they feel this shows off the wood s character.

The first three recipes use two different color layers each separated by a seal coat of shellac. Woodworkers who choose to use a minimalist approach to finishing their oak projects would be wise to take some extra time in sanding in many steps using progressively finer grits of sandpaper in each step to help eliminate sanding. But that said i would suggest not painting high quality expensive hardwoods in general you re covering up half of what you are paying for.