017 Oil Finishes: Letting Wood Be Wood

Every woodworker eventually discovers that choosing a finish is about more than protecting a project. It's about deciding how you want the wood to be experienced for years to come.

Over time, I've found myself returning to oil finishes again and again. There are many excellent finishes available today, each with its own strengths, but I continue to appreciate what a good penetrating oil does for wood.

I often describe it this way:

"Oil seems to make the wood happier."

Of course, wood isn't alive once it has been cut and dried, but every time I apply an oil finish, the grain seems to awaken. The colors become richer, the figure gains depth, and the personality that was quietly waiting inside the board finally reveals itself.

Working With the Wood, Not Against It

There are two general philosophies when finishing wood. One builds a protective film over the surface. The other penetrates into the wood itself.

Both approaches have their place. Film finishes provide excellent protection for many projects and are often the right choice for heavy-use furniture.

But I've always been drawn to finishes that soak into the grain. Rather than covering the wood, they seem to celebrate it.

When I run my hand across an oil-finished piece, it still feels like wood.

The Warmth of Linseed Oil

If I had to choose one finish that has accompanied me through most of my woodworking journey, it would be boiled linseed oil.

I've used it on countless projects over the years because of the warmth it brings to nearly every species of wood. It enhances natural colors, highlights grain patterns, and produces a finish that seems to grow more beautiful as the years pass.

It isn't flashy. It doesn't create a thick glossy surface. Instead, it quietly allows the character of the wood to become the focus.

Every Shop Had Its Own Recipe

Long before today's shelves were filled with commercial finishes, woodworkers often mixed their own.

One old craftsman once told me his favorite finish was a fifty-fifty mixture of motor oil and varnish, rubbed in by hand. Curious, I tried it on a project many years ago. It worked surprisingly well for the intended purpose, reminding me that every generation experimented with the materials available to them.

My sister even discovered an old handwritten finish recipe tucked away in an old house. I remember it calling for ingredients including egg and turpentine, along with other materials that reflected a time when craftsmen created finishes from everyday products rather than buying them off a store shelf.

Whether every old recipe should still be used today is another question entirely, but each one tells a story about the ingenuity of past woodworkers.

New Products, Same Philosophy

Recently, I've begun using shingle oil on outdoor posts and other exterior projects.

Although it is a modern product, I appreciate it for much the same reason I appreciate traditional oils—it penetrates into the wood instead of simply sitting on top of it.

As I continue using it over the years, I'm looking forward to seeing how it protects the wood and how it ages through changing seasons.

Light Completes the Finish

A finish doesn't work alone.

Morning sunlight, the warm glow of evening, or even a carefully placed lamp can completely change how wood appears.

The first coat of oil often feels magical because the grain suddenly becomes visible in ways that sanding alone could never reveal. Curl, figure, knots, mineral streaks, and subtle color variations all begin to tell their story.

The finish didn't create that beauty.

It simply helped us see what was already there.

Learning From the Tree

The older I get, the more I believe wood should be allowed to look like wood.

Every board carries the story of years spent growing. Tight growth rings, changing colors, small imperfections, and unique grain patterns are not flaws to hide—they are the very reason we chose that board in the first place.

The best finishes don't compete with nature.

They work alongside it.

Final Thoughts

Every generation of woodworkers has searched for the perfect finish.

Some trusted homemade recipes. Others relied on linseed oil, shellac, wax, varnish, or modern penetrating oils. Each craftsman developed favorites through years of experience.

I suspect the perfect finish doesn't really exist.

The best finish is the one that protects the wood, reveals its natural beauty, and encourages someone to run their hand across the grain and appreciate the remarkable material that nature created long before the woodworker ever picked up a tool.