Watco danish oil finish

[11th corps]

After trying two different stains on the stock of my trade gun, and not being satisfied with the results, I sanded back to bare wood and applied Watco Danish oil finish, in dark walnut.
It really brought out the grain in the stock. I will be topping it with exterior poly in about 3 days per instructions.
Any others tried this finish? How durable is it? It's actually an interior finish, but since I will be topping with an exterior poly, and I will only be shooting at the range, I hope it holds up.

 

[pondoro]

I used this exact finish on several pine floors fifteen years ago. It still looks nice on the floors.

 

[flashpanner]

Exterior poly????? Was that available in the 1700's? Shame on you!!! What would Isaac Haines or John Bivins say? ::
I was going to try some epoxy resin on mine

 

[44-henry]

Actually I doubt John Bivens would have minded, he seemed to promote modern finishes if they gave the look of a traditional finish but with better protection he was all for it. His article on stock finishing that can be seen in Gunsmithing Tips and Projects expresses this viewpoint with his express oil finish. Also, chances are if it is quick, easy and effective, I doubt you would have heard any complaints from the old timers either, they were in it as a business and time, just like today, was money.

 

[11th corps]

Actually I doubt John Bivens would have minded, he seemed to promote modern finishes if they gave the look of a traditional finish but with better protection he was all for it. His article on stock finishing that can be seen in Gunsmithing Tips and Projects expresses this viewpoint with his express oil finish. Also, chances are if it is quick, easy and effective, I doubt you would have heard any complaints from the old timers either, they were in it as a business and time, just like today, was money.

Hm, I didn't think about it not being traditional. Of course the electric sander, drill press, and grinder I used aren't exactly traditional. Neither is the Chevy Silverado I will be using to transport it to the range rather then old paint. eace:

 

[JOHN L. HINNANT]

Greetings 11th corp.

Watco Danish Oil finish is an old, old furniture finish that is produced in at least four types: natural, light walnut, medium walnut, and dark walnut finish.

I have used it for numerous applications on various woods almost from its inception, and have always had good results.
As you have discovered, it does a nice job of staining maple and is virtually mistake free in use. This feature was particularly nice when I taught a Middle School Wood Working Class for a couple of years.

Oil finishes enhance and bring out the figure of wood better than any other type of finish, and Watco is no exception, however, Watco is not a good exterior finish.

You mention finishing off with polye-urethane varnish. You might want to consider instead, finishing off with a high grade of tung oil which is very compatible with Danish Oil and will seal over the Danish.

Another good, compatible oil finish over the Danish Oil is BIRCHWOOD CASEY Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish. It is available in a rub-on or spray-on aersol can. Tung oil can always be applied over the Tru-Oil for touch-up too.

DEM-BART Continental Style Stock & Checkering Oil is also good for sealing over the Danish Oil, but is somewhat more difficult to use.

One of my all time favorites is Flecto Varathane Penetrating Plastic Oil Sealer. This is a finish recomended by the late John Bivins as an all purpose complete finish.
Unfortunately, it is no longer available in my area or even in the surrounding area. If you see this product anywhere, grab onto it; you will not regret it.

There is nothing wrong with your plan to top off with a good varnish. Varnish was around 200 plus years ago, but most gunsmiths or cabinet makers had to make it. "Secret Formulas" really were kept secret in those days. A word of caution though; not all varnishes are compatible over oil.

I have been finishing furnitue and stocks for 50 plus years and like John Bivins, keep looking for the "perfect stock finish". This quest is the the Holy Grail pursuit of stock makers.It never ends.

For the past 20 years or so, my perference has been to use compatible oil finishes for my stock work. That has simplified that part of my life.

Hope this information will prove useful.

Best regards,

John L. Hinnant

 

[LSU TIGER]

Chambers sells a good oil finish the wears well, and can be touched up. Also, Pilkington's works well and comes in a couple of different colors (tints).

 

[11th corps]

John
Thanks for the tips.
I have been a hobby woodworker for many years, but I really do not like the work of wood finishing. I usually am not satisfied with the end results of the wood finish, even if my miters, dovetails etc. are tight, my work is square, it seems the finish is never quite right, no matter what I try.
I didn't think about tung oil. Thats probably what I will use.

 

[jh45gun]

Must be good stuff my gunsmith uses it and he is darn picky on his gun stocks. He puts in in and then sands it with fine sandpaper. He told me to use a propane torch over my wood add the oil finish and sand. I have seen some Maple stocks done this way and they looked good. Jim