than linseed oil. But that’s not saying much, neither oil has waterproof
qualities like our next finish: Varnish
Varnishes
Clear varnishes are an excellent choice when a project is going to have to
stand up to a lot a wear and tear or come into contact with moisture.
Varnishes dry into a hard finish that protects wood very well. Varnishes
for outside use are called marine varnishes, spar varnishes or exterior
varnishes. The most common interior varnish is called polyurethane.
Polyurethane varnish comes in an oil-based and water-based finish. The
water based is the way to go. It’s easier to clean up, (simple soap and
water), and doesn’t have the strong odor that you get with oil-based
varnish. You can apply polyurethane with a synthetic bristle brush or a
foam brush. Some manufactures have come out with a “wipe on poly”.
It’s basically just a thinned down version of the brush on kind. The draw
back to using wipe on poly is it only puts on a very thin coat so it could
take several coats to equal one brushed on coat of polyurethane varnish.
Another type finish that is very popular is “Danish oil”. Danish oil is a
mixture of oil and varnish. It’s more protective than oil alone but not as
protective as varnish alone.
Waxes
Waxes are used when you’re looking for something to add a little shine
but keep the wood close to its natural color. However, waxes provide
little protection so they should be reserved for decorative objects that are
just to look at. Waxes come in different colors as well. Use the cream-
colored waxes for light woods like pine, maple and poplar and darker
waxes for darker woods like oak and walnut.