maintenance / finishes | espenetfurniture

MUST KNOW: FINISHES & MAINTENANCE

Direct sunlight, high heat or very low humidity will crack or bleach out your handmade wood furniture. Also leaving water on any surface will most likely over time leave a watermark no matter what finish is on there. If you have a table in the sun I recommend covering it with something when not in use.

If you want to maintain your furniture, it is always a good idea to put on another coat of oil.

All of my father's furniture was finished with LTV. If you own one of his pieces this is what he used.

LTV is one part linseed oil, one part turpentine or paint thinner, and one part high gloss spar varnish. All oil based.

I usually mix these with less linseed oil and more varnish and paint thinner. The linseed oil can be very sticky and does not dry well. So I recommend mixing about 1/3rd cup varnish, 1/3rd cup linseed, and 1/3rd cup turpentine or paint thinner. This is a rough mix. Do not worry about being accurate. The turpentine currently is only found in art stores. It is best to make it a bit thinner by adding a little more paint thinner.

If you are oiling a large item that has many parts, oil sections at a time and wipe it off with a dry rag. Do not leave any drips. You can apply it with #0000 steel wool or even wet sandpaper with the oil using 220 or 320 grit to clean off any dirt. Sand with the grain. If starting with 220, go to 320, then to #0000 steel wool to finish it off. Re-oil with #0000 after that process anytime you like. Remember to wipe it off completely and make sure to throw away the rags in the fireplace or where they will not spontaneously combust.

If you own one of my pieces, which are signed either Tripp Carpenter or Espenet III, I do not use LTV anymore. LTV is only on my older pieces dated before 2018.

I now use Rubio Monocoat Pure. This is a great product with little or no VOCs (volatile organic compound). It is child friendly and easy to use and can be bought in paint stores. It is a two-part solution; although, it can be applied without the catalyst too. Please follow the directions. Just wipe it on with a white soft brillow pad, also sold at paint stores; let stand two minutes and wipe off with a dry cloth. Let it dry for a few hours. Two coats are best with very light steel wool buffing between coats.