A foolproof guide to help you pick the right wood finish

When you are working on a DIY woodworking project, it is important to choose the right type of finish. After all, the finish is what is going to protect all your hard work. But which one should you choose?

Know your options

Knowing your finishing products is the first and perhaps the most important step in figuring out which finish is right for you. The good thing is that it is not really that hard. Wood finishes only come in a few, easy to learn categories based on how much protection they offer, how they look and how easy to use they are.

Types of finishes

Sadly, there is not one finish that can do everything. A finish that works great in one aspect may fail abysmally in another. When choosing a finish, there is going to be some trade-off. There are five common types of finishes that you have the choice to work with – namely, oil, varnish, shellac, lacquer and water-based. The best way to get a true idea of the various types of wood finishing products is to pay a visit to your local supply store.

Oil – Oil finishes are one of the thickest, fastest drying wood finishes that you can work with. Oil finishes actually penetrate the fibers of the wood before they harden, making them stronger. They are also rather easy to apply. You can simply apply them on the wood surface, let them dry and then wipe off the excess with a rag.

Varnish – Varnish is another tough, durable finish, largely due it to its incredible resistance against chemicals, solvents, heat, and water. Usually, varnish is applied with a brush.

Shellac – Shellac is one of the most lustrous finishes available today. Applying this finish is surprisingly easy as well as it can be simply be sprayed or applied with a brush.

Lacquer – Lacquers are regarded by most professionals as the go-to finish for wood. Why is that? Simply because high-quality finishes like Mohawk Lacquer dries fast, gives the wood depth and richness as well as an adequate resilience, and rubs out well also.

Water-based – Water-Based finishes contain a few of the same ingredients as varnish and lacquer, but many of the flammable and polluting ingredients are replaced with water, making water-based products ideal for a more green-oriented workshop.

As an amateur woodworker, you will normally have a hard time choosing the right finish for your project. Nonetheless, when you are mindful of what you need and know your options as well, you can easily find the right wood finish.