Materials
Finishing Oils, Explained Honestly
By Noah Bennett · December 10, 2025
Oil, hardwax, lacquer or shellac? The workshop’s honest verdict for every surface.
Oil, hardwax-oil, lacquer, shellac, soap — the finish aisle is bewildering. We test them all in the workshop, so here is the honest verdict.
For tables, hardwax-oil wins for repairability: a scuff sands out and re-oils invisibly. For kitchens, use a catalysed lacquer on high-wear zones. For the purist, shellac and wax — beautiful, and renewed yearly.
The right finish is the one you will maintain.
Whatever you choose, apply thin coats, denib between them, and cure fully before heavy use. Patience is the secret ingredient of every finish.
