SF - Wood furniture polish

**Kent Wang** · March 17th, 2006, 04:00 AM

My table is now finally stained. It's a shame I no longer have my digicam for pics.

It is paccawood (from the rubber tree), stained with many coats of ebony-colored Minwax Wood Finish (oil-based) and then topped with a few coats of Minwax Polycrylic clearcoat.

What polish should I use? Is Pledge fine? I read that tung oil is recommended.

**faustian bargain** · March 17th, 2006, 10:48 PM

seems like if you have an acrylic coating, oil isn't going to do anything for you. it won't soak through to the wood like it's supposed to, will it?

pledge is fine, but it builds up over time. makes it shiny and slick.

you're probably okay with just a damp rag and then a chamois cloth or microfiber.

**Huntsman** · March 17th, 2006, 11:16 PM

Parawood, you mean?

Tung oil is great as a finish, and to refresh oil finishes -- as fb noted, not good on top of an acrylic, and it might never dry! Really anything should be fine that isn't a penetrating oil.

Regards,
Huntsma

**Bradford** · March 20th, 2006, 05:23 AM

Depending on how badly the table is stained, you might consider sanding down the top and refinishing the surface. It's relatively easy to do with a small palm sander...

I agree that Pledge will not do much for you in this case and I doubt that my other favorite, http://www.scottsliquidgold.com/ will do much for you either.

**Kent Wang** · March 22nd, 2006, 11:49 PM

Thanks. Although I am very pleased with the table it sounds like I could have gotten a better stain. I might sell it at a profit and buy another one.

j · March 23rd, 2006, 10:18 AM

Here's a reply from my uncle who makes furniture:

Quote:

Pledge is fine, or any of the orange oil, oil/wax,
furniture care polishes. With PU topcoats he could use pretty much anything
with no problems. Just wipe it on and buff it off - no big deal. If he
wants to build a finish over time he could use Briwax Natural or another
hard wax and build several coats which will buff to whatever sheen he wants,
but it's hardly worth it. Wipe and go is my vote.

**Jill** · March 27th, 2006, 07:46 PM

agree with everyone here who says that once you have an acrylic finish, then oils are somewhat pointless. For future reference, though, our woodworking shop guys (who deal exclusively with high-end hardwoods) recommend 2-3 coats of tung oil to bring out the natural colors of the grain. Then once it is well soaked in, a couple of them prefer (ready for this?) turtle wax. That's right - the kind that you're supposed to put on your car!

I've not tried it yet, but since they made our latest merchandising display rack, I'm going to give it a try once I get around to it. I'll let ya know how it goes!

**Nantucket Red** · April 10th, 2006, 06:46 AM

Minwax is a good stain and finish.

Tung oil is a finish, not a wax or polish. As others mentioned, too late for it now.

Lemon oil is pretty standard. We've always been fond of Butcher's Wax in my family to build up coats of wax over time.

I agree with J's uncle -- wipe and go!

March 17th, 2006, 04:00 AM	#1
Kent Wang Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,209	Wood furniture polish My table is now finally stained. It's a shame I no longer have my digicam for pics. It is paccawood (from the rubber tree), stained with many coats of ebony-colored Minwax Wood Finish (oil-based) and then topped with a few coats of Minwax Polycrylic clearcoat. What polish should I use? Is Pledge fine? I read that tung oil is recommended.

March 17th, 2006, 11:16 PM	#3
Huntsman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,659	Parawood, you mean? Tung oil is great as a finish, and to refresh oil finishes -- as fb noted, not good on top of an acrylic, and it might never dry! Really anything should be fine that isn't a penetrating oil. Regards, Huntsma
	"Courtesy is every man's own affair, but decency is a debt to life." Last edited by Huntsman : March 17th, 2006 at 11:23 PM.

April 10th, 2006, 06:46 AM	#8
Nantucket Red "Mr. Fashionista" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: WASP in Tokyo Posts: 5,733	Minwax is a good stain and finish. Tung oil is a finish, not a wax or polish. As others mentioned, too late for it now. Lemon oil is pretty standard. We've always been fond of Butcher's Wax in my family to build up coats of wax over time. I agree with J's uncle -- wipe and go!
	The better you look, the more you see.

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March 17th, 2006, 10:48 PM	#2
faustian bargain Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,523	seems like if you have an acrylic coating, oil isn't going to do anything for you. it won't soak through to the wood like it's supposed to, will it? pledge is fine, but it builds up over time. makes it shiny and slick. you're probably okay with just a damp rag and then a chamois cloth or microfiber.

March 20th, 2006, 05:23 AM	#4
Bradford Current Events Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sacramento / Phoenix Posts: 5,737	Depending on how badly the table is stained, you might consider sanding down the top and refinishing the surface. It's relatively easy to do with a small palm sander... I agree that Pledge will not do much for you in this case and I doubt that my other favorite, http://www.scottsliquidgold.com/ will do much for you either.

March 22nd, 2006, 11:49 PM	#5
Kent Wang Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,209	Thanks. Although I am very pleased with the table it sounds like I could have gotten a better stain. I might sell it at a profit and buy another one.

March 27th, 2006, 07:46 PM	#7
Jill Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 443	agree with everyone here who says that once you have an acrylic finish, then oils are somewhat pointless. For future reference, though, our woodworking shop guys (who deal exclusively with high-end hardwoods) recommend 2-3 coats of tung oil to bring out the natural colors of the grain. Then once it is well soaked in, a couple of them prefer (ready for this?) turtle wax. That's right - the kind that you're supposed to put on your car! I've not tried it yet, but since they made our latest merchandising display rack, I'm going to give it a try once I get around to it. I'll let ya know how it goes!