best finish for......?

[Fumbler]

Team,

I am in the process of a roadside rescue chair rebuild, and I'm not sure what the timber is, and probably wont until I sand the current finish off. My question to the brainstrusts is what sort of finish should I apply to this chair? I was thinking of a polyurethane clear gloss, but I would prefer not to be spraying a finish. can anyone recommend an easy to apply hardwearing log lasting finish?

thanks

[AngelaPetruzzi]

This resinates with me...my daughter rescued a heavily vanished solid hardwood table. I don't think she expected it to be so heavy, but I sanded most of the varnish back and oiled parts with white oil to contrast the stain that I did not want to fiddle with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er7wMSmo5Ug the product is easy to apply by hand with polishing inbetween coats.

As to a product being hardwearing..it depend on your priority. Some products are easy to revitalise and others need sanding back when scratched and worn.

[orraloon]

I have not used white oil but am a fan of oil finishes in general. I use danish oil a fair bit and on a hard wood it wears quite well. Coffee table and 3 side tables I made a few years back are standing up well and they are not treated with kid gloves either. The good thing with oil finishes is the ease of repairing. Basically just another wipe of oil if needed.
Regards
John

[Arron]

If you want a hard wearing, easy to use finish then you can’t go past polyurethane. That’s why it’s pretty much the only alternative at most DIY hardware stores - and what almost everyone means when they say ‘varnish’.

A lot of people (including me) prefer to use something else, for a variety of reasons including that it’s difficult to spray, not easy to repair, not really amendable to buffing and does look a touch plasticy; however if those things don’t bother you then it’s a good durable finish.

If you want a bit more of a mellow, aged finish you can use the wipe-on version.

Use Penetrol to prevent brush marks and lap marks.

If you use oil on your chair remember it will be touching up against the fabric upholstery.

Cheers
Arron