Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve written anything here. I guess having a baby will do that to you? Slowly, but surely, I’ve been getting some work done, and I wanted to write a quick post on a new regimen I tried on some white oak that I really like. If you’re looking to accentuate the natural character of the wood, and not stain it, this is a great process:

• Sand the entire piece to 120, then 220 grit with an orbital sander
• Coat with Danish oil in “natural” finish. Follow the directions carefully, and make sure to rub out all the excess so it dries properly.

• Let it sit for 3 days to fully dry.
• Coat with two coats of shellac sanding sealer, sanding at 220 in between.
• Top coat with your favorite wipe-on finish. I like General Finishes Arm-R-Seal or Minwax wipe-on poly.

That’s it! A great, natural finish that is durable as well. Here’s how it looks on a finished product!