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Your woodworking material will arrive ready for final sanding. As we indicate above, we pass on the final sanding and finish work to the parish. Some 120-grit sandpaper and hand sanding are all you will need to prepare the surface for a finish. If you come across some dried PVA glue (looks like brown plastic), it is usually easier to scrape that first and then sand, but it will sand off as well.

A common question I get asked is what is a “safe” finish for materials made of wood. Frankly, all wood finishes are safe as long as they are allowed the time to cure fully. Curing time will be different for each finish material you choose. Check with your local stain and finish expert at a paint store.

What do I use? I am currently using hard wax oils like OSMO Polyx Hard Wax Oil or Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C. These oils are VERY simple to apply, and the VOCs are very light. They are easy to repair and safe to use. The biggest downside is that they are very expensive.

My old favorite is an equal mixture of Boiled Linseed oil, gloss Polyurethane, and Naphtha. Naphtha is not sold anymore in California. You can use mineral spirits, but it takes longer to dry.

The oil allows the mixture to be applied with a rag, a “hand-rubbed” application, the Poly will build after a few coats and provide a durable finish, and the Mineral spirits will also help the finish to flow and dry quickly as the spirits flash off. This allows you to rub on an additional coat in an hour or so. How long will it take to cure? Depends on how much of each of the three liquids you use. Generally, 2 weeks to a month or use your nose. When you cannot smell the finish anymore, it is cured.

Another easy alternative is simply to rub on boiled Linseed oil; I will use this when I do not want to “build” a finish. This is a great finish for wood stories as it will add to the oil from all the little hands over time and will create a GREAT patina over the wood. You can also get a can of spray shellac. Shellac is a resin that is secreted from the Lac bug. It is safe; in fact, it is used as a food glaze! It dries fast and looks great. It is not very hardy, but you can always re-spray to the story as needed.