WATCO Danish Oil Cure Time

[OCtoolguy]

18 hours ago, dgman said:

I don’t know as I have never used anything else. What you need to do is venture out north to L. A. County and see if you can find some. Here in Ventura Co. it is readily available. Maybe look on Home Depot’s web site of the nearest store in L.A. county. I know you hate the thought of venturing out into traffic to L.A. county, but it might be worth it.

If I venture into L.A. County, I'll have to carry a gun. It's crazy there.

 

[OCtoolguy]

3 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

If I venture into L.A. County, I'll have to carry a gun. It's crazy there.

 

Dan, that was meant tongue in cheek. Only part of L.A. County is that way. We have our areas here too.

 

[Millwab]

On 3/24/2022 at 8:15 PM, OCtoolguy said:

Dan, is there a substitute for the mineral spirits? I was at H/D today and checked again but still no go. They have paint thinner and another product called paint cleaner if I recall. I've never seen it before. 

Ray, I was always under the impression that paint thinner and mineral spirits were the same thing. Is there a difference?

[BadBob]

I tried the soap and water. No joy. It did reduce the odor to near zero, but it came back after 24 hours. The odor was not as strong, but it is still there.

I don't like applying a top coat over any oil finish. So no more Watco Danish Oil for me. I tried it because many had posted here that they use it, and I wanted to give it a try.

I tried boiled linseed oil a few years ago with much the same result. It took weeks for the odor to dissipate.

[dgman]

12 hours ago, Millwab said:

Ray, I was always under the impression that paint thinner and mineral spirits were the same thing. Is there a difference?

Mineral Spirits is much more refined than paint thinner. It is clear with little smell. Paint thinner is very milky and has a strong odor. For mixing a clear finish like my 50/50 mix, paint thinner would make it milky. I’ve never tried it because I’ve always had mineral spirits available.

[OCtoolguy]

15 hours ago, Millwab said:

Ray, I was always under the impression that paint thinner and mineral spirits were the same thing. Is there a difference?

There must be as we can't buy ms in the county where I live. I know paint thinner has more odor to it. Not sure what the reasoning is in their thinking.

[OCtoolguy]

3 hours ago, dgman said:

Mineral Spirits is much more refined than paint thinner. It is clear with little smell. Paint thinner is very milky and has a strong odor. For mixing a clear finish like my 50/50 mix, paint thinner would make it milky. I’ve never tried it because I’ve always had mineral spirits available.

Dan, I'm going to take a run up to Long Beach, no that far, and see if I can buy it. That's the closest L.A. County city to me. It's just not convenient so I never think to head that direction. Thanks for the explanation. I've never used the BSO/MS mixture before so maybe it's time.

[BadBob]

20 hours ago, dgman said:

Paint thinner is very milky and has a strong odor.

I use paint thinner. It isn't milky and it is a lot cheaper although it does smell a bit stronger. 

 

[Bill WIlson]

I use this.  Get it at Lowes.  Don't know if it's available in CA or not.

Edited March 27, 2022 by Bill WIlson

[Blaughn]

I have been rethinking Watco brand Danish oil.  Danish oil enhances grain so beautifully but it cures so slowly.   I like to use a lacquer finish and current advice is wait 3-14 (or longer!) days after applying Watco Danish Oil before applying lacquer.    I have a heat gun in my shop that I use to check the cure.  Applying heat to causes the oil to sweat and actually causes beads of liquid oil to form on the surface.  I have observed this for up to 7 days.  Using heat and wiping off the liquid speeds up drying.

I stumbled across an article that proposed home made Danish oil that achieves the look while drying faster.  https://vanduynwoodwork.com/2018/09/18/danish-oil-finish-top-3-reasons-to-mix-your-own/  I tried this and it achieved the grain enhancement while drying in 3 days.  After drying, I apply a coat or two of sealcoat shellac (unwaxed shellac).  This seal coat greatly reduces spotty absorption of the lacquer (a real problem with cherry) while providing a solid base for lacquer adherence.  Some cherry has porous spots that will absorb lacquer like a sponge leaving an uneven finish and requiring a ridiculous number of coats of lacquer before you build up the surface.  Then you sand away most of it to get a flat coat.  I have 2 pieces in the basement that have defeated me thus the hunt for a better way.

Woodworkers put in waaaay too much effort to have a piece ruined during finishing. 

[Blaughn]

I am very happy with the "home made" Danish oil I found at https://vanduynwoodwork.com/2018/09/18/danish-oil-finish-top-3-reasons-to-mix-your-own/.  It pops the grain and drys far more quickly than Watco Danish Oil.  The piece I am currently working on feels dry to the touch overnight and there is only a faint odor.  Having said that, I will allow 3 days to be safe. 

My experiments with Danish oil, Wax-free Shellac followed by clear lacquer is looking promising at this point.  I am preparing multiple experimental pieces before discussing further.

[BadBob]

Update: It has been more than 1 month and I can still smell the danish oil.