Oil finish

[Bluekingfisher]

My chosen finish for years has been a wipe on spirit based poly, with Tung oil in equal measures and a little white spirit to thin for ease of application. The dry time varies depending on the temprature, although a week to 10 days is usually enough time after the last coat is applied for the finish to cure enough to handle.

SWMBO asked me if paste was can be applied over the top of the oil finish. I have never done it but I suspect the oil will need to cure for longer than my normal time of a week or so.

Any guidance on the suitability of paste over an oil/poly finish and how long should I wait - a month or so?

Many thanks

David

 

[ED65]

Wax is compatible with any finish so you're safe enough there. It's actually very traditional too, homeowners wouldn't generally have had linseed oil on hand to do regular re-applications of the finish itself so wax polish it was for shining stuff up.

By the way the drying time of 7-10 days for your mixed finish seems very long, even for cold weather! I'm guessing but are you applying it fairly liberally and then not wiping off the excess?

 

[Bluekingfisher]

Thanks for the response.

Perhaps I should I stated curing time, rather than drying time?

The finish is applied very liberally, certainly on the first coat, left to soak for 10 - 15 mins then wiped off. dependant on the wood and its ability to absorb the finish will determine the number of applied coats. Although three coats is usually enough for most woods

Even up to several days after I have applied this finish it still feels "damp" although no residual finish is obvious on a rag or my fingers. What i was concerned about was applying the paste wax over the uncured finish and ending up with a dull sticky end result.

I have applied wax over many finishes such as shellac, water/solvent based poly and even over bare wood with good results, just never over the finish I initially mentioned. Hence my post seeking advice from those with experience of such.

David

 

[ED65]

Ah okay that makes more sense. That "it sort of feels damp" but no trace is coming off on the fingers I understand perfectly.

Because paste wax is so thin after application and buffing you should have no troubles at all if you want to put some on after a week. 'Good practice' says you should wait for a finish to cure before applying wax but many of us simply don't have the time any more. And you can be assured that the curing of the finish under the wax will continue. I've applied wax next day on top of the last coat of BLO without incident quite a few times.

 

[Bluekingfisher]

Thanks for the reassurance.

I am in no immediate rush to apply the wax coats, the item is a mid February birthday gift so cure time is not an issue on this project.

Thanks again

David

 

[yetloh]

My advice is don't do it - see my post on the wiping poly formulation thread.

Jim