COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT CLEAR FINISHES

There is no single ideal clear wood finish. Choosing a clear finish for wood involves trade-offs between appearance, protection and durability, safety, ease of application, reversibility, and rubbing qualities. The following table compares the characteristics of different clear finishes.

Appearance Protection Durability Safety Ease of Application Reversibility Rubbing Qualities
Wax Creates shine Very little Does not last and needs to be reapplied frequently Safe when solvents in paste wax evaporate Applied with rag, needs buffing Can easily be removed with solvents Needs to be buffed
Shellac Some yellow or orange tint, depending on grade used Fair against water, good on solvents except alcohol Durable Safe when solvent evaporates, used as food and pill coating French polishing difficult technique to master. Completely reversible using alcohol Excellent
Nitrocellulose lacquer Transparent, good gloss Good protection Hard and durable Uses toxic solvents, including toluene. Breathing protection is needed, especially if sprayed Requires spray equipment. Brush-on products also available Completely reversible using lacquer thinner Excellent hard finish
Conversion lacquer Transparent, good gloss Excellent protection against many substances Hard and durable Uses toxic solvents, including toluene. Breathing protection is needed, especially if sprayed Requires spray equipment. Used in professional shops Difficult to reverse Excellent hard finish
Linseed oil Yellow warm glow, pops grain, darkens with age Very little Fairly durable, depending on number of coats Relatively safe, metallic driers are poisonous Easy, apply with rags and wipe off. Takes relatively long time to dry Needs sanding out as oil is absorbed None
Tung oil Warm glow, pops grain, lighter than linseed Very little Fairly durable, depending on number of coats Relatively safe, metallic driers are poisonous Easy, apply with rags and wipe off. Faster to dry than linseed oil Needs sanding out as oil is absorbed None
Alkyd varnish Not as transparent as lacquer, yellowish/orange tint Good protection Durable Relatively safe, uses petroleum based solvents Brush or spray. Brushing needs good technique to avoid bubbles & streaks Can be stripped using paint removers Fair
Polyurethane varnish Transparent, many coats can look like plastic Excellent protection against many substances, tough finish Durable Relatively safe, uses petroleum based solvents Brushing needs good technique to avoid bubbles & streaks Can be stripped with difficulty using paint removers Bad, coats do not meld leading to white rings if rubbing out cuts through coat
Water-based polyurethane Transparent, may give cold bluish tinge to wood Good protection Durable Safer than oil-based, fewer VOCs Brush or spray. Brushing needs good technique to avoid bubbles & streaks Can be stripped with difficulty using paint removers Bad, coats do not meld leading to white rings if rubbing out cuts through coat
Oil-varnish mixes Similar to oils unless many coats applied, then takes on characteristics of varnishes Low, but more than pure oil finishes Fairly durable, depending on number of coats Relatively safe, uses petroleum based solvents Easy, apply with rags and wipe off. Faster to dry than linseed oil Needs sanding out as oil is absorbed None unless many coats applied

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