It came into the shop looking great. Almost brand new and well made. But, on closer inspection, I could see that the finish was rapidly failing. Here are some before and afters:
A few water spots:
After removing the previous finish, addressing the epoxy issues and level sanding, here is the finished product. Looks great. The wood grain is much more clear and vibrant. A long lasting finish that you won’t have to baby.
Aside from the dings, what caused this finish to fail so quickly? IMHO it was not enough coats and the wrong type of finish for a table top.
This finish was one of the single coat oil/wax finishes that are very popular with builders. Ease of use and beautiful results make it real hard to turn away from them. But, in my experience, they don’t age well.
These finishes are just oil and wax, with no resin component. Without resin, a finish dulls and wears away very quickly. Oil finishes need to be reapplied yearly to keep up any amount of protection.
I only recommend oil or oil/wax finishes if it is for a very light use item like a jewelry box or a shelf that will only hold pictures (no car keys or such things).
And please beware of the ‘healthy for the environment’ marketing. Many oil/wax finishes make use of a catalyst. This allows for quicker turnaround for the maker, but is about the most toxic stuff ever made.
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We use an oil and resin based varnish that is 100% solids. No solvents, catalysts or heavy metal driers. It cures instantly with UV light. Non-toxic before and after curing. A flexible, tough and long lasting finish.
