I'm feeling really overwhelmed with my latest woodworking project. I have this beautiful 3-foot live-edge slab of olivewood that I'm trying to turn into a coffee table, but I can't seem to get the finish right. No matter what I do, it always looks terrible. I've stripped and sanded it down at least ten times trying to get it perfect, but I still end up with lap lines and uneven patches. I've tried different tools like brushes, applicator pads, microfiber cloths, and spray finishes, as well as various brands and sheens, but nothing seems to work. Watching tutorials hasn't helped either, and I'm at the point where I'm ready to give up on woodworking altogether. Can anyone share some advice?
3 Answers
It sounds like you might have better luck with a hard wax oil finish. They're super easy to use and hard to mess up. Plus, you can polish them to get a nice satin sheen! Give it a shot; it could save your project!
Yeah, hard wax oils are pretty forgiving! Good luck!
I recommend sanding the wood back to bare. After that, wipe the surface with denatured alcohol; this will help you see where any finish might still be stuck. Sand until it’s smooth and uniform, using raking light to check your progress. Then apply a wiping varnish like Minwax Wiping Poly; it helps minimize lap lines. Once you're done with the last coat, wait a day or two, assess, and if it looks good, let it cure for a week before buffing with brown paper or wax and steel wool. This 'finishing the finish' step really makes everything shine!
Let’s be real, don’t stress over YouTube too much—it can get overwhelming! Finishing can be tricky. If you're looking for a simple approach, consider using Danish oil; it’s a wipe-on, wipe-off method that can give you a nice shine with minimal fuss. Just remember to wait 24 hours between coats. If you're up for a bit more work, spar varnish applied with a hand-rubbed technique will give you a glass-smooth finish without those pesky lap lines. The key is knowing how much shine you want!
I've heard that about water-based finishes too, but here I am still struggling! I'll definitely give the hard wax oil a try, thanks for the tip!