Varnishes have been an integral part of preserving and enhancing the beauty of wood for centuries. However, the conventional varnishes often contain toxic chemicals and solvents that can have detrimental effects on health and the environment.
Wood Varnish – A Beautiful Natural, Eco-Friendly Finish For Wood Surfaces. A well-chosen wood varnish can really bring out the character of wooden surfaces such as floors, windowsills and doors.
Traditional house paints, varnishes, paint stripper, thinner, and adhesives, contain many toxins that are harmful to people and the environment. VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) are released into the air as the paint dries.
Tung & Linseed Oil
Linseed oil is made from flax seeds, giving your wood a warm and rich glow without using any harsh chemicals. Tung oil penetrates deeply into your wood, protecting against moisture as well as wear and tear. They are easy to apply, and completely safe because of their natural ingredients.
Cuprinol Trade Exterior Wood Preservative is a water-based treatment for rough sawn timbers including sheds, fences and cladding. Protects against weather and prevents rot and is safe for both plants and animal when dry.
Coconut Oil: If you're looking for a completely plant-based option, you can use only olive oil as the wood sealant. While it won't create a solid paste like with beeswax, a combination of olive oil and coconut oil can still provide some protection and conditioning to the wood.
Most varnishes are a blend of resin, drying oil, drier, and volatile solvent. When varnish dries, its solvent portion evaporates, and the remaining constituents oxidize or polymerize to form a durable transparent film. Varnishes provide protective coatings for wooden surfaces, paintings, and various decorative objects.
Zero VOC (volatile organic compound) penetrating floor finishes. These work because of the tendency for naturally occurring oils like linseed, tung, or soybean, to form a solid, protective surface just by being exposed to oxygen. No solvents needed, so no petrochemicals needed.
Many varnish products contain benzene, a highly flammable carcinogen. It also emits a strong odor with intense fumes that cause drowsiness, headaches, skin irritation, and dizziness. High exposure can even cause unconsciousness and respiratory distress.
Traditional Varnish Toxicity Issues
At high concentrations, a person may become unconscious, suffer respiratory distress, and may even develop pulmonary edema. Those who apply varnish should always wear a mask, and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma may want to avoid contact with varnish completely.
They have such a strong scent because they're typically loaded with harsh, toxic chemicals and volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs. In large amounts, these VOCs can have an adverse effect on the environment, degrading air quality by contributing to smog and ozone depletion.
While we at Naan appreciate the beauty of untreated wood, applying varnish to your furniture will help preserve its appearance and protect it from the passage of time. Our recommendation is to opt for a colorless matte finish varnish designed for interior use, as this will preserve the natural appearance of the wood.
Unlike polyurethane, varnish is designed for outdoor projects and is not typically used for indoor surfaces such as a hardwood floor. While polyurethane is water- or oil-based plastic resin, varnish is older and made from resins, oils, and solvents.
Resin. Many different kinds of resins may be used to create a varnish. Natural resins used for varnish include amber, kauri gum, dammar, copal, rosin (colophony or pine resin), sandarac, balsam, elemi, mastic, and shellac. Varnish may also be created from synthetic resins such as acrylic, alkyd, or polyurethane.
Apply varnish or sealant to wooden furniture to create a barrier against moisture. This extra layer of protection can help keep your furniture mold-free.
Look for water-based, oil-based, wax-based, and shellac wood finishes as they contain low to no VOCs and come from renewable sources.
One of the most popular ways to make wood flooring shine without varnish or wax is to use a clear, matte sealant. This can be applied with a fresh microfiber cloth, which will help erase any scuffs and light scratches.
Olive oil used to be the traditional and ancient method of protecting worktops and treating wood surfaces, but it was found to have several drawbacks; the surface would always remain wet, did not protect against moisture for long, and helps bacterial growth.
Creosote is one of the oldest wood preservatives, and was originally derived from a wood distillate, but now, virtually all creosote is manufactured from the distillation of coal tar.
Plastikote Project Enamel 59ml - CLEAR. Non-toxic and pet safe clear varnish. The go to item for protecting wood products in hamster, gerbil and all other rodent enclosures.
When choosing wood for kitchen utensils, it's important to consider food safety. Maple, cherry, walnut, beech, and teak are all excellent choices due to their non-toxic and non-reactive properties. These woods are durable, resistant to moisture and bacteria, and have been used in food preparation for centuries.