Q: We used hemp oil and beeswax to finish a new very large dining room table. However, the finish is not durable and water and wine stains are a real problem. We wish to remove and re-sand it and need some advice for refinishing it. Would any other oil such, as walnut oil offer the kind of protection we need for daily use?
A: I assume you meant hempseed oil, since hemp oil, which is made from the bud and leaves and not the seed, is illegal in the US except by prescription, as it contains substantial amounts of THC. Either way, hempseed oil is not a good finish choice, and is mostly sold as a dietary supplement. I can’t imagine why someone would choose it as a wood treatment.
Though not all oils are equal, oil in general is not a good choice for something that needs as much durability as a dining table. For that matter, neither is wax. Waxes and non-drying oils are only temporary, and are best used as polishes above a finish rather than as a finish. By contrast, a drying oil, such as tung oil or boiled linseed oil, which does form a film, albeit a very thin one, is fine for art pieces, gently handled turnings, picture frames and the like. However, to resist water, wine, stains, acids, bases, solvents, abrasion and heat, all the things to which a dining table is prey, you want a more substantial film forming finish. The best choice for such durability is oil based polyurethane, which is both durable and fairly easy to apply. Some versions simply wipe on at one coat per day for as many days as it takes to build a sufficient finish.
Michael Dresdner
straight talk about wood finishing
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