Shellac. In my opinion, shellac is the best natural wood finish for one main reason: it's the most protective natural finish on the market. Unlike other options, shellac forms a barrier on top of the wood, stopping water, dirt, and other things (*cough*crayon*cough) from reaching the pores of the wood.
Danish oil
It is often used on bare wood to provide a natural-looking, matte finish. This type of oil penetrates deeply into the wood grain, giving it a rich, lustrous appearance. Unlike wood finishes such as varnish or lacquer, Danish oil does not require sanding between coats and can be applied directly to bare wood.
I just apply stain directly to the wood. There are TONS of stain options out there. I personally like to keep things more of a natural color, so I go with Minwax Wood Stains or Varathane Wood stains. They make both water and oil based stains.
To limit wood damage, preserve furniture AND keep it looking natural you'll want to seal raw wood with Liming or Cerusing wax. Any other wax or poly (from my experience) will darken the wood, enhance orange tones and change the color.
Varnishes and oils offer a natural-looking wood finish. Varnish, shellac, and lacquer are not easy to apply, but they do offer a deep and rich look. They will also deepen and darken over time. Varnishes are the best choice for high-gloss surfaces.
Paint and stain are common options for indoor and outdoor projects because they come in a variety of colors and tones. Oils, like tung oil, linseed oil, and danish oil, offer a more natural finish that greatly enhances the existing grain pattern of the wood.
Now here's the secret to protecting and finishing raw wood while also protecting the raw wood look. Modern Masters Exterior Dead Flat Varnish. This is a water-based sealant that brushes on easily and never leaves streaks. Since it's water-based, it needs to be applied over raw wood or other water-based products.
The best option is to use a varnish or lacquer to give the wood a high gloss finish. While varnish can be sprayed or brushed on, lacquer is best applied by simple spraying. Spraying makes the surface seem finer than painting as it doesn't leave any strokes behind.
To make wood waterproof naturally, use either polymerized linseed oil or tung oil, which are the two best natural wood waterproofing products. Refined hemp oil and walnut oil can also be used, but you will have to apply a repeat coat more quickly.
Bare wood, when left unfinished, keeps your furniture with a natural wood look but the risk is exposing it to harsh elements, even if it's indoors, such as light, dust, moisture and water damage, making it more susceptible to stains, warping and cracking.
Polyurethane wood finishes are synthetic coatings that are highly durable and water resistant, making them the best clear coat for wood protection.
Different types of wood clear coats
One type of wood sealer is a polyurethane or polycrylic water based sealer. These sealers are durable and provide a strong barrier of protection. Another type of wood sealer is a lacquer sealer.
Commonly used wood finishes include wax, shellac, drying oils (such a linseed oil or tung oil) lacquer or paint. Other finishes called "oil finish" or "Danish oil"are actually thin varnishes with a relatively large amount of oil and solvent.
Over time, your wooden furniture may start to lose the bright shine it had the first day you brought it home. Before you decide to get rid of the piece, know that your wooden furniture can easily be restored with a simple mixture of oil and vinegar.
Different formulations of polyurethane create different levels of luster or sheen, so choose based on your preference. Flat or matte polyurethane leaves the least shiny coating and conveys the look of natural, unfinished wood.
Yes! A polyurethane wood finish looks beautiful and is one of the most durable top coats for wood finishes. It works great on stained wood, raw wood, weathered wood finishes, and painted wood finishes too.
To seal wood properly first prepare the surface by sanding it smooth and, if you like, staining it a color. Then you can apply a sealant, but there are many to choose from. The three most common sealants are polyurethane, shellac, and lacquer, and each requires a different method of application.
For that reason, we strongly recommend using boiled linseed oil rather than tung oil when you want to accentuate figure before applying a topcoat.
But polyurethane does bring out the grain in wood finishes and impart a golden tone.
What you want to go for is a finish that is known as “water-white”. This means that when it dries on the surface of the wood, it won't bring any color to the party. Just about any water-based finish fits into this category. There are also water-white lacquers that work very well.