Finishing a Tas oak table and a beech bench top.

[groo]

About 18 months ago I stripped back and re coated my Tasmanian Oak dining suite and for this task chose Feast Watson's Scandinavian Oil treatment, giving it about 5 coats. The finished product looks beautiful but the table top still remains sticky, to the extent that paper, especially glossy paper, will stick to it if left on the surface and the parts left adhering to the table top have to be scrubbed off. I had hoped that the table top would harden with the passage of time but it has not.

Is there an alternative product that I could apply over the existing Scandinavian Oil finish that would not be as sticky.




On another matter, about 12 months ago I installed new beech timber bench tops in my kitchen. The supplier, Ikea, recommended "Behandlia Oil" and I applied several coats of this. At first it looked good, but it has not proved very hardy for a kitchen bench surface and stains easily. Is there a more robust finish that would provide more protection to the light coloured timber of my bench tops? In the past I used urethane, but I am sure that there is something better than this available.

Many thanks in advance.

I've cross posted this in the Restoration section as well - wasn't sure where to put it..

[LGS]

Hi Groo and welcome.

I would suggest that you remove the Feast Watson Scandinavian oil and redo the surface with hard burnished Wattyl Scandinavian oil. The burnishing process render the timber resistant to heat, moisture (including Red wine and water) and stains. You can see the process here. It is a great technique and gives an excellent finish. If you want more info, feel free to send me a PM.

I would recommend exactly the same finish for your kitchen Beech benches.

Regards

Rob