If you worry that your pine outdoor wooden furniture and decks will deteriorate after a year or two, you should give it a hard-wearing and durable finish. There are multitudes of oil finishes, but our expert woodworkers recommend using danish oil on pine wood.
If you want to know what a danish oil can offer on your pine pieces, keep reading to learn the details!
About Danish Oil
Danish oil has a unique and advanced formulation which makes it a preferred wood finish of most woodworkers. It is composed of two or more solvents that offer wood protection.
Usually, it is a mixture of a large portion of tung oil or polymerized linseed oil added with varnish, mineral oil, or other polyurethane solvents. But other manufacturers mix turpentine for a hint of a pine tree essence.
How Good is it on Pine and Why is it Popular?
The Danish-oil finish is popular among woodworkers because it brings a luxurious appearance to their pine project pieces. They prefer using pine Danish oil to accentuate the look and wood grain pattern of the surface.
If you want to keep your prevent cracking in your pine surface, you can also reapply it. It’s also used to fix minor wood imperfections without sanding, and it does not require too many coats.
According to the studies, its curing time is under 6 hours, the fastest among other finish oils. But if you apply Danish oil in multiple coats or your pine wood pieces are damp, curing will take a week or two.
On top of that, most woodworkers rely on Danish oil finish for its remarkable resistance to water and humidity. The only exception for this finish is not to use it on cutting boards, but they still consider it for cutlery handles.
Can You Use Danish Oil Over Wood? Does Danish Oil Darken Wood?
Indeed, danish paint oil is the best match for your pine furniture surfaces, considering its ease of application by hand or wipe-on finish.
Once applied, the durable finish will not appear film-like on the surface but is drenched in the wood. This is because pine is a soft wood with porous timber.
Depending on the type of finish you want, Danish oil will darken wood. Applying Danish oil also alters the color of pine furniture surfaces and reacts to the wood’s natural oils. You can achieve a darker or natural finish using golden oak, black walnut, natural, and red mahogany shades.
Can You Use Danish Oil Over Varnish and Stain?
If you plan to use danish oil over the stain, the probability of success is high. Varnish is a finishing pine wood product for wood that prevent any oil from penetrating its wood grain. So, our experts recommend removing varnish before applying danish oil.
For the stained surface, make sure that the stain used is oil-based. Otherwise, the oil cannot penetrate water-based stains. Also, try it first on a small piece of wood so it will not damage the entire surface if something unexpected happens.
See Also: Does Pine Stain Well?
Potential Dangers Of Using Danish Oil and How to Avoid Them
Before using this oil, you should first determine whether it works fine or is already harmful. Expired or contaminated danish oil loses its quality and performance as a finisher, resulting in a sticky and uneven finish.
But how would you know it’s terrible? You must dispose of it if it has a thick, rubbery, stringy, and unpleasant appearance. You can also tell the difference between a new and a spoiled one if the latter smells foul or rotting.
Contamination occurs because of improper storage. If it gets exposed, there are potential risks to your pine furniture. So, how would you avoid it?
Keep it in excellent condition by storing it in a cool, dry place. Make sure you seal the container tight enough so air cannot go in and prevent molds from thriving.
Pros of Using Danish Oil
Quick Drying
As mentioned earlier, this oil dries quickly compared to other wood finishing oils. In less than 6 hours, your pine is dried already. But sometimes, depending on the weather and humidity, you must wait a week or two to dry it thoroughly.
Chemical-Resistant
It provides your wood with chemical resistance, safeguarding it against potential damage caused by spills of household cleaning supplies, solvents, and food.
Waterproof
Aside from chemical resistance, another one of the danish oil pros you should know is it’s water resistant or waterproof. It contains solvents that transform its particles into a solid layer while it reacts with air.
Scratch-Resistant
What about the additional sheen and glossiness of your pine-made furniture? Danish paint provides extra protection by giving off chemical agents responsible for creating heat resistance which gives your pine its natural beauty. It also shields your pine furniture from exterior defects.
Cons of Using Danish Oil
Unreliable Durability
Depending on the types of its mixtures and the proportion of solvents, it can be less durable. Also, the finish easily attracts dirt, making your wood fragile. So, make sure you purchase high-end quality danish oil and clean the surface regularly to remove dirt on it.
Can’t Use Over Paint
Another thing about it is that you cannot use it over a painted surface. However, lightly sanding the surface can penetrate wood pores and adhere to your paint.
What to Consider When Coating Pine with Danish Oil
There are no limitations if you are applying danish oil on bare wood furniture. Nevertheless, you must consider different circumstances and factors before and after applying them.
Applying Danish Oil on Top of Painted Pine
When you want to apply danish oil on painted pine, you should do it immediately. But it can blend into your paint, unless you consider curing it for at least 48 hours.
Also, you can apply it on top of acrylic or water-based painted pine wood. However, you should not use acrylic paint over danish oil.
Painting On Top of Danish Oil
Another consideration is painting on top but sanding it first, using fine sandpaper or sandblasting. Sanding your surface can give your paint something to stick.
If you opt not to sand, choose shellac or oil-based finishes but make sure the danish oil applied is completely dried.
Outdoor vs Indoor Application
It can be versatile for the surface that needs wood finishing. For outdoor applications, it should have higher varnish components for maximum wood protection. For indoor, you should apply more linseed or tung oil on pine.
Protective and Finishing Qualities
Naturally, it offers protective and finishing wood qualities. You can purchase it to give your furniture and decks resistance to water and humidity. There are also additives, such as UV inhibitors, mixed in danish oils.
Curing Period
When you are drying oil, you need to consider the climate conditions and humidity. Ideally, the curing time is less than 6 hours in average climate conditions. Otherwise, you must wait a week or two to cure the applied danish oil.
End Grain and Edge Grain Wood Surfaces Application
The wood absorbs it quickly by applying it in the direction of the grain. Whether the pine wood furniture has end or edge grain wood surfaces, you must follow its direction. Start to apply danish oil directly to the end grain sections to prevent them from appearing darker.
Maintenance & Care
Lastly, the danish oiled surface can fade over time, so regularly cleaning the surface can maintain its look and beauty. Also, you can re-apply it in thin layers to maintain protection from external damage.
Applying Danish Oil to Restore Pine Wood
Prep the Surface
To restore your pine wood, first, you must prepare the wood, mainly removing old paint, varnish, stain, or any finishes. For old paint, you can use a paint stripper, especially if it’s multiple-coated paint.
Also, you can use a wood cleaner solution to completely remove the dirt and stains from old finishes. Then use sandpaper to get rid of the remaining finishes applied before. White spirit is [1] effective in clearing old waxes and grease.
The Wet-On-Wet Method
Once you clean the entire surface, you can restore it using this wet-on-wet technique. Here are the basic steps:
Step #1: Sand the surface using 80-grit sandpaper. Using a vacuum, you can remove sanding dust on the surface. You can also wipe it using a clean, soft cloth.
Step #2: Then apply it using a lint-free cloth. You can apply multiple layers until the surface stops absorbing oil. The wood should be wet. Let it rest for 20 minutes.
Step #3: Next, apply it again until you achieve the preferred wood shades of the wood. At this point, the wood should be soaking wet with oil. Then let the wood dry for 20 minutes.
Step #4: Finally, wipe the excess oil on your surface using a clean rag.
The Smooth Finish Method
Here are the basic steps to apply danish oil on pine wood with the smooth finish technique.
Step #1: In a circular motion, start sanding the wood using 80-grit sandpaper. Then remove the dust using a cheesecloth and a vacuum to remove the dust completely.
Step #2: Next, apply the danish using a clean cloth or a brush. Ensure there are no dull spots and that the penetrating oil fully covers the surface before letting it dry for 4 minutes.
Step #3: Then, wipe off extra oil and leave the wood overnight in a warm area.
Step #4: The following day, check it and apply the second coat. Then gently sand it using 600-grit sandpaper, following the direction of the wood grain. Wipe away the dust from the surface before drying the wood overnight in a warm area.
Step #5: The next working day, apply the third and last coat of danish oil. Then sand afterward and cure the wood in a warm area for two days. The remaining wood debris should be removed after it is completely dried.
Should You Sand Between Danish Oil Coats? Are Top Coats Required?
You should sand in between coats so that your pine furniture will have a perfectly smooth surface. Lightly sanding in every coat of danish oil removes obvious dust nibs. Leave behind the stain or brush marks in the meantime.
In sanding between danish oil applications, our experts recommend using the finest grit, say 320 or 400-grit sandpaper, for a smoother result. Depending on the smoothness you want, you can use any sandpaper grit.
Can You Use Lacquer on Top of Danish Oil?
Lacquer is an oil-based varnish that would not stick completely if applied over the danish oiled pine furniture. Yes, you can use lacquer or any paint products with oil-based pigments over them, but there are considerations.
As mentioned earlier, it should fully cure before applying paint or stain on top of it. Another option is lightly sanding it to provide adhesion before painting lacquer on danish oil on pine or other wood types.
Will Danish Oil Protect Pine Wood Surfaces from Water?
The applications of danish oil protect wood pine furniture from water, moisture, and humidity. Once applied, it offers additional layers to safeguard the surface from the thriving of molds resulting in its decomposition. You can use it as a primer before painting it.
Is It Possible to Thin Danish Oil For Thinner Coats?
You can thin your danish oil depending on the texture of your wood surface. It contains 1/3 thinner, but you can still dilute the 20% with thinner or mineral spirits.
Danish Oil vs Linseed Oil vs Tung Oil Finish for Pine
Here’s a quick comparison of danish, tung, and linseed oil finish for pine wood.
Product | Application | Curing Time | Finish | Resistance/ Durability |
Danish Oil (Mixture of linseed or tung oil and other solvents) | Easy to apply by hand or wipe on using cloth | 4 to 6 hours | Natural or transparent satin or semi-gloss | Resistant against chemical and scratch, Waterproof |
Linseed oil (Pure oil from Flax seeds) | Becomes sticky if inappropriately applied | 24 to 72 hours | Mellow or Patinated (Depending on application) | Resistant on water, moisture, and humidity, scratch-resistance |
Tung oil (Also known as Chinese wood oil; Derived from tung tree) | Hard to apply; Required brush | 7 to 10 days (initial) 15 to 30 days (fully cured) | Natural or transparent satin | Resistant on water, moisture, and humidity; scratch-resistance |
Best Watco Danish Oil Shades for Pine
1. Watco 242220 Danish Oil Wood Finish, Low VOC, Quart, Dark Walnut
One of the best danish oil shades is Watco’s dark walnut. The finish offers a cool-toned, medium brown with a dull luster. It darkened the surface without removing details of the wood grain for an artistic furniture appearance that is similar to a professional job.
2. Rust-Oleum 214380 Watco Danish Oil, Quart, Red Mahogany
This Watco’s red mahogany is undoubtedly not red but a combination of pink and red hues or reddish pink color. It can darken pine’s unnoticeable white burn marks and restore the beauty of the wood. Just like a birdseye maple, it accentuates the birdseye figure.
3. Watco Rust-Oleum A65741 Danish Oil Wood Finish, Quart, Natural, 32 Fl Oz
Another best of Watco is this natural danish oil hue known as a “go-to danish oil” for pine woodworking projects. It enhances the existing color without changing it. It is also the easiest finish for your pine wood surface to make its natural color look distinctive.
FAQ
Is it fine to apply teak oil on pinewood?
You can use teak oil on pine wood surfaces, but it should be the least of your options. Unlike danish oil, teak oil is pricey, and you have to use more than 7 coats to have your desired finish.
How long does it take for Danish oil to last on pinewood?
You can achieve your desired finish in less than 24 hours after you apply the last coat of danish oil to your pine surface. Pine project pieces with oiled surfaces can last over 10 years.
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Conclusion
You can use Danish oil on pine for a durable and long-lasting finish and protection. Watco is our top choice for this oil, as it offers different shades depending on the finish you want to achieve.
You can restore your wood’s natural beauty by applying this oil, as well. Indeed, your pine wood will become resistant to external damage from water and direct sunlight.
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