How to Finish Cherry With Linseed Oil
Cherry is a closed-pore wood with a fine grain that makes achieving a glasslike finish relatively easy. When working to finish cherry with linseed oil it is important to use a boiled linseed oil rather then the oil in its raw form. Boiled linseed oil contains additives and thinners which speed the drying time of the oil and make it easier to work with. Raw linseed oil will not dry and should not be used for finishing wood.
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Things You'll Need
- 320-grit sandpaper
- Clean rags
- Water
- Boiled linseed oil
- 0000 steel wool
- 400- to 600-grit wet/dry sandpaper
- Liquid wax
- Shellac (if desired)
Instructions
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1
Sand the cherry smooth with 320-grit paper. Wipe the piece with a dry cloth to remove any dust left after sanding. Allow the cherry piece to dry.
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2
Pour boiled linseed oil onto a clean cloth and rub the oil over the surface of the cherry. Apply the oil evenly so every part of the wood is saturated. Wait 30 minutes and use a clean cloth to wipe off any oil that was not absorbed by the wood.
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3
Rub the wood with 0000 steel wool until the surface is smooth again. Wipe the surface of the wood dry with a clean cloth and let the wood sit overnight to dry (at least 12 hours).
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4
Oil, wipe, sand with wool and dry the wood once a day for 7 days using a little bit less boiled linseed oil each time. The steel wool should no longer be removing any wet oil on the seventh day but a fine layer of wood surface only. If the wool is still wet, continue the process for a few more days.
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Rub a thin coat of liquid wax onto the wood and let dry (following the instructions on the wax container). Do not use paste wax as it create a thicker coating that will be prone to yellowing. Buff the wood to a shine using a clean cloth.
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Tips & Warnings
Coat the piece with shellac to provide the cherry wood with a hard, protective finish.
Don't let the oil pool on the wood or it will become sticky and hard to remove.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Bowl for fruit from wood. image by juri semjonow from Fotolia.com
