I'm finishing a desk that will see hands, coffee mugs and the occasional damp cloth every day. I like the lower odor and quick cleanup of water-based finishes, but I've heard oil-based products can bring out the grain more warmly. Durability and repairability matter more than achieving a particular golden color. What have you actually used on a working desk that still looked decent after a few years?
Choosing between water-based and oil-based finish for a frequently handled desk
- woodworking
- choosing
- between
- water
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3 replies
For a desk, I’d go water-based unless you really want the amber color of oil. It holds up fine if you build the coats properly, and a desk g...
For a desk, I’d go water-based unless you really want the amber color of oil. It holds up fine if you build the coats properly, and a desk gets more abuse from spills than from finish purists.
I’m not fully sold on water-based for a desk people touch all day. Oil feels nicer to me, and I don’t mind the extra dry time if it means the surface looks less plastic.
I’ve used both on office desks. Water-based is easier to fix when the inevitable coffee ring shows up, which is why I’d pick it for somethin...