How to Apply Walrus Oil Wood Finishes
WOOD PREPARATION
For New Builds1. Ensure Proper Moisture Level of Wood - All hardwoods need to be properly kiln dried or air dried until moisture levels are under 10%. A higher moisture level will cause finishes to take much longer to dry and could cause a "splotchy" finish. Invest in a good moisture reader, which can be purchased at most lumber stores.
2. Prevent Raised Grain with the "Sand-Wet-Sand" Method - To prevent raised grain, use the sand-wet-sand method before applying any finishes. Sand wood surface between 120 - 220, wet surface with water to raise the grain, let it dry, then sand surface again between 220 - 320 to remove the raised grain.
3. (Optional) Clean Surface with Mineral Spirits - While many woodworkers don't find this step necessary, some swear by it. Apply a thin layer of mineral spirits to the wood surface to clean it of excess sawdust and fine debris. Generally a little sawdust will be created again during the finishing steps, but some still prefer to start with a clean slate.
For Restoration Projects
1. Clean Surface - When refinishing or refreshing already finished wood surfaces, clean the surface of any gunk (crayon, dried baby puke, etc). Allow surface to completely dry of water or cleaner before applying a finish.
HOW TO APPLY OUR OIL-BASED FINISHES
Furniture Finish, Furniture Butter, Pure Tung Oil, and Cutting Board Oil
1. Apply First Coat (most important step) - Make sure surface is sanded at 220 - 320. Apply a thin coat of finish by hand with 220 - 320 grit sand paper or a nonwoven sanding pad. You can also use an orbital sander/buffer, however avoid putting your body weight into it so you don't sand the finish out as you're applying it.
Thoroughly and patiently work finish into the wood grains until it's no longer visibly wet and feels smooth. Allow 12 - 24 hours to dry. With the first coat, the longer you give it to cure, the better. For quicker cure time, you can mix a small amount of solvent with our finishes. After it has had time to cure (usually one day), buff off any remaining residue with a nonabrasive pad until it feels dry.
2. Apply Additional Coats (as needed) - In most cases for projects needing additional coats of finish, you can get by with just a second coat. However for the best finish possible, we recommend up to 3 to 4 coats (for heavily used tables and chairs for example). Use the exact same steps as Step 1, but increase grit size as you build coats (as shown below):
First Coat: 220 - 320 grit
Second Coat: 320 - 400 grit
Third Coat: 400 - 600 grit
Fourth Coat: 600+ grit
HOW TO APPLY OUR WAX FINISHES & POLISHES
Wood Wax and Furniture Wax
1. Applying Waxes - Whether you're applying our waxes as a final coat of finish for a new build or polishing an already finished piece of furniture that needs a refresher, the steps are much the same. For new builds always apply oil finishes before wax finishes, since oil will likely not penetrate a waxed surface well. We recommend using a nonabrasive pad whether you're using wax as a finish or polish. This will ensure you don't sand out any oil finishes in the wood. Simply apply a conservative amount of wax to the entire wood surface. For Wood Wax for Cutting Boards, allow 15 - 30 minutes to set before polishing off residue. For Furniture Wax, allow 1 hr to set. For best results give the waxed surface a few days to cure before allowing heavy water contact. If you're polishing a piece of furniture that only needs partial refreshing, the Furniture Wax is great for "spot polishing", however if it looks uneven, you can apply it to the entire surface to ensure an even looking finish. And for older furniture that has been finished with unknown products, we recommend testing in a small area to make sure you like the results before applying to the entire surface.
PRO TIPS RECAP
1. Prep your wood properly and always start with the "Sand-Wet-Sand" method to prevent raised grain.
2. Always apply oil-based finishes before wax finishes.
3. When using oil-based finishes for new builds, for best results apply at least two coats.
4. Apply finishes to sanded surfaces between 220 - 800 grit. Start at 220 and increase grit as you build coats.
5. The higher you sand at, the smoother the surface will feel and the shinier it will look (though our finishes range from matte to semi-gloss).
6. Wax finishes should usually be applied with nonabrasive pads to avoid sanding out base coats of finish.
7. Allow proper cure time between coats and after the final coat before heavy use and water contact. Generally 12 - 24 hours between coats. For new unfinished cutting boards and wooden utensils, allow 1 - 2 days after final coat to cure. For unfinished furniture, allow 2 - 4 weeks after final coat for the finish to properly polymerize to the wood surface.