Olive Oil on Timber

[StrawParker]

I have just got some 70's type wooden chairs (brand S & M Contract Furniture Sydney) that are old and in need of a revamp. My mother suggested cleaning with fine steel wool and vinegar - brown - and then going over with teak oil. Went to the local Woolies and no teak oil available. They were looking shocking after this treatment, so I thought .. hmm olive oil.

Have I committed a mortal sin , even though they now look alright and better than the commercial brands of aerosol wool polish that seemed to do nothing.

Please help.

I also have a Parker 1971 table that I recently purchased on ebay and the top looks shocking.

[BobL]

Have I committed a mortal sin , even though they now look alright and better than the commercial brands of aerosol wool polish that seemed to do nothing.
.

Yes you have - now go to the corner of your room

Olive oil will go rancid and smell - BTW rancid Olive Oil is toxic.

I suggest you get off what oil you can with a turps soaked rag and then use a mix 50:50 mix of Pale boiled linseed oil and turps. Several light coats wiped on will be better than painting it on. Wait till it dries and repeat the wipe on coat procedure several times and then finally use some site sponsors natural wax.

[astrid]

Steel wool and vinager make black stain.
have you got grey or black spots where the original finish is worn?

Astrid

[powderpost]

Go to the home page of U-Beaut Polishes, you will find a good range of products to solve your problem.
Jim

[MacS]

Your Mom was close, vinegar was commonly used to clean and dewax old furniture.

Teak Oil uses a "drying oil," if it was avaiable it would have work. You could use Danish oil, Tung Oil, Boiled Linseed Oil, or Watco Oil Finish, all of these use "drying oils" which means these oils will dry and then produce and build up a coating that will protect the wood.

[StrawParker]

From the corner of the room, just glad that I haven't added Olive Oil to the four supposed Parker chairs that I have been working over with vinegar to get built up black scum off.

And I forgot to say I gave up on the steel wool very early and went for just cotton wool balls and vinegar.

[DJ’s Timber]

And you won't find Teak oil at your local Woolies either, you'll find this at your local Bunnings, Hardware store or some paint shops.