Is Protective Sealer or Wood Oils Needed?

Wood sealer is common for many projects and the finish can vary from project to project. Many do not often think of protecting wood decor. While it is more common to accept a sealer of some kind is used for wood artwork, when retouching what kind should be used? More importantly for the uninitiated within the wood world they may ask if a protective sealer and finish is even needed.

To answer one simple question, yes a protective coating should be used. Even if the wood decor is indoors there is humidity. This humidity and moisture can impact wood over time in negative ways. This includes your artsy crafts which are made from wood.

At the very minimum wood oil of some kind should be used and then reapplied over time as needed. This will work to keep humidity from reaching the wood and provide a beautiful appearance. Note these coatings can impact wood texture feel within the hands so choose accordingly.

If one is into diy home decor or crafts there is additional information you may need. It is nice to control the cleaning and sanitation process from the very beginning. In this way when protective sealer is added you know everything that could be done was done well.

Another factor people often overlook is UV light. While an artist may think ahead and use a UV protective coating on wood art this is not true of artsy decor.

This light spectrum can fade anything within the home as it comes through your windows including the furnishings of your house. We are accustomed to using wood preservatives on exterior wood surfaces yet interior needs exist as well.

You may want to look into a UV protective film for windows to help protect all furnishings within the home. This simple feature is worth the effort in saving many thousands of dollars down the road on areas such as hard wood flooring. Protect your decor and artwork from the factors which impact it most.

Artsy Crafts To Be Aware Of

Let’s first look at the wood artsy crafts that people most commonly place within the home. Some items are throw aways with time and that is an obvious given. While they are typically inexpensive if they come from a Hobby Lobby there may be one that you fell in love with. These wood decor items typically are not well protected and need help.

A lot of wood decor pieces that come from these cheaper locations often will be unfinished. The sides may be painted and that is all good and well. Yet to keep the work clean and the paint from later peeling a wood sealer can help. There is no harm in applying sealer over the item to extend its life.

When these pieces are painted they can often be done in a decorative manner and less concern is given to protection than appearance. These less expensive decor options are done by budget with the least expensive materials. Taking that next step to protect them if you like them is a good idea. As a fad or trend changes you may not be able to find that specific piece again.

Often enough there is little to no protection offered on these artsy crafts. It becomes more imperative when these pieces are placed in a sun room or screened in porch where more exposure can take place. The speed at which they decline is exponential. The greater the exposure the more protection that is needed.

What Wood Sealer For Which Application?

Different surfaces will require different finishes for sealing. Floors will require a harder finish due to foot traffic and furniture which will be placed as compared to wood wall art. Typically floors are not a diy thing for most people. So I will focus on the most common home applications.

In terms of wood art in all its forms and sizes the artist may have already applied a finish or sealer. In my work I always do. Never do I send a piece out that has not been finished. Yet there are those who do not. Raw wood is fairly easy to identify by touch and sight. If it is finished you should be able to see or feel the polyurethane or oil that was used.

In the case it is not sealed you may want to do something to protect the wood. For wall art typically I use a coating that gives a UV protecting layer. Products such as Minwax Polycrylic are water based rather than oil. It offers this UV protection that will aid in keeping the stain colors vibrant within the wood from sunlight as it enters the room. This protection is not a be all end all solution. The better protection would be adding UV film to windows within the house.

As to the sheen that should be used there are many options. Typically people will select a sheen based on whether or not they like a shiny look. For wall artwork be careful about selecting a finish with a sheen. I prefer using a matte finish that I then thin down and use multiple applications. Wall art is more prone to reflecting light and this is a problem when displayed.

As a piece hangs from a wall you want the artwork to be easily seen. If too much light reflects from the surface then it obscures the artwork on the wood. This is definitely not desirable in terms of displaying artwork. I prefer the matte finish for this reason in the form of the polycrylic urethane. Oils would change the color of the art too dramatically altering the piece in a way I personally do not desire.

For other artsy crafts within the home this same mindset can be used. The more art that is on a piece the more important the matte finish becomes. The question becomes what is the focus of the piece? If it is the art as well as the wood the matte finish helps allow the artwork to stand out. If it is the wood grain with less focus on the carving or engraving a semi-gloss is perfectly fine.

Any object that will be touched often by hands you will prefer other alternatives. Oil based urethanes are good for wood objects of this nature. A semi or gloss finish more desirable. It resists dirt and oils from our hands as we touch them often and is why oil is used on things such as handrails or doors. Additionally it is a harder finish allowing for a more protective layer.

In items such as memory boxes or box art there really is no way to go wrong. It is an object that does get touched by hands yet is also a decorative object for the home decor. On my boxes I typically use an oil urethane with a semi-gloss finish. I stay away from wood oils again for its nature of altering the wood color in a way I do not desire. Nevertheless it would be a great option for boxes you may find on your journeys and travels.

I will add that one advantage to the wood oil on boxes is the rich appearance it can give over stain and urethane. That is hard to beat. If you decide to go on this path maybe experiment on a similar piece of wood to see the outcome before applying. Depending on how slick you want to make it sanding and sealing has alternative options. It would help to get an idea of the impact on the appearance before using. Once oil is used it is best to not use a urethane.

Raw Wood and Wood Oil

What can wood oils be used on? When I say wood oil I speak of the more common used today such as Tung, Mineral, or Walnut oil. Depending on what variety of Danish you get it can be an excellent option yet know there are many brands of these products.

Not all are equal nor should just any brand be used for items which involve food preparation. Likewise with linseed oil if one uses this it is best to use the pure form. Tung oil though is far superior.

Where oil excels in terms of wood artwork is when you find a piece which is raw wood that has no stain applied to the wood. A wood carving for example can have these oils applied to them and it would amaze you at how beautiful the piece can become. There are a few small details to know about these wood oils.

They do need to be reapplied from time to time. This is not a bad thing. We normally clean our homes on a regular basis so our nice wood pieces would be no different. How often this oil should be reapplied will vary based on where one lives. Nevertheless most people will reapply more often than is needed in order to keep the piece looking vibrant and beautiful.

As a little time goes by you will notice the color change as the oil works into the wood and begins to dry. Rarely would someone let a piece go too far unless it was placed into storage. Nevertheless before things do go too far often with dusting one will notice it needs to be “cleaned”. A little bit of new oil being applied will bring the wood back to life.

When an oil is selected it is often best to continue using the same kind of oil on that piece. Again experimenting before use is best. Keep in mind that depending on how the oil is processed the outcome can at times be a little different based on brand.

Food Safe Wood Oil Application

Up until this point most applications are fairly common sense without needing a degree in woodworking. Yet with items such as cutting boards you do need to be more careful. Also cheese boards or any wood item you will be placing food on. Where it becomes absolutely critical is a surface where food is not only prepared but where the surface will be scored by a blade allowing fibers to open up.

By its very nature wood absorbs fluids of all kinds. When you seal a board that will be used in food preparation this sealer needs to be safe as it will come into contact with the food. Likewise the sealant will need to protect the wood. There are a few options you can select for this purpose that will be safe for your family.

On those items you can use tung, mineral, or walnut oil. Yet a note of caution here. Pay attention to ingredients which can cause allergic reactions. If an individual of the family has food allergies I would advise to say with Mineral Oil and leave it there. Nevertheless these are the most common oils used.

Know that there are different versions of these oils on the market. While the world today loves organic trends you may not want these oils in their organic form with the exception of mineral oil. If you do get mineral oil in its pure form it can be used but consider buying oil which has vitamin E within it. Also another little tip is to look into using beeswax as part of the application process.

If you are thinking of obtaining these oils in their organic nature I would strongly suggest researching its use and application. These oils are processed for wood application for many reasons ranging from preventing spoilage to getting faster drying times on wood pieces. This process is a topic within its own right.

When purchasing these oils for application where food will be used research the brand. Some may not care what process is used or what may be added to the oil while others may. I say this because some labeling can be ambiguous.

Ensure that their end product is indeed food safe. Not all vendors may list the process or additives placed within the oil. Despite these discrepancies tung, mineral, or walnut oils are the most common used.

Wood Epoxy – More Exotic Wood Applications

The average home owner will rarely need to go beyond the above applications. Yet there are other options for use on wood if one desired. Epoxies can be added to give an extremely hard finish which can be cut and shaped. Often these are used on more exotic wood tables and features can be made such as rivers or placing smooth stones into the work.

These applications are more advanced in their use and aside from specialty applications I prefer to not use them. One of the drawbacks is a personal preference rather than a problem. When used as a finish to cover the wood it hardens and feels plastic or fake. I really want my wood to feel natural. I want to feel the wood grain on my fingertips.

Due to this most often I avoid its use except for special projects which require it. For general home application it is something you should never run into. The possible exceptions would be if damage has taken place on a piece. There are advantages to epoxy in this case.

If damage has occurred the epoxy can be used as a filler and a binder. Depending on the location of the damage and the scale of the repair you may need to build a form. When wood epoxy is poured it will do like water and flow to wherever gravity takes it. Nevertheless it can help save a nice piece allowing it to continue serving you instead of scrapping it or throwing it away.