Make a Home Brew Wipe-On Finish

Combine your ingredients in a
glass jar, working in a well-
ventilated area. Keep your
mixture stirred as you use it.

With so many wipe-on finishes to choose from, you’ll probably find one you like right off the shelf. But you can easily make your own.

To make an oil/varnish blend, mix equal parts of oil-base varnish, tung or boiled linseed oil, and mineral spirits, as shown, right. You can alter the mixture to suit your need. More oil increases penetration and color, and slows drying. Additional mineral spirits speed drying and decrease the thickness of the film. Increase the quantity of varnish to create a thicker film.

Making a wiping varnish is even simpler. Just mix conventional varnish with an equal amount of mineral spirits.

For more indepth information on finishing, visit the Finishing and Refinishing Techniques section within the WOOD Store.

Comments ( 3 )

lcbenn1 wrote:

Save your time and money. I had "really" hard time getting mix correct. I won't go into that. But the cost was much higher, long run, than going with name brand wipe on. Which are actually easier to use anyway.

3/18/2010 09:37:35 PM Report Abuse

cecchini3912378 wrote:

The most important item you left out of your 'home brew' was a filter mask for VOC's even if you have a ventilated area.

3/18/2010 11:35:15 AM Report Abuse

woodhaug wrote:

I use tung oil and polyuratane. But beware tung oil is not tung oil. Some are made for final finishes where some are made just to penitrate the wood. Use only pure tung oil and formula of oil poly: satine, gloss. Drying will be determined by the poly with its hardners. I rub the last coat with a brown paper bag (after it dries) for an incredable finish.

3/18/2010 10:38:20 AM Report Abuse