2007-09-17 13:15:10 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Valid answers so far; and in some way your question might relate to how you define "strong". Would any OIL finish keep a piece of wood from Hammer Dimples? Hardly.
Certainly "Finishes" are specifically designed for aesthetics primarily; and clear coats may increase durability of surfaces; but the basic structure of the Wood remains the same.
Oils as suggested; Linseed/ Tung oil/ etc.; are designed to penetrate; and fill fibers and voids in the substance of the wood product. In a process over time you could oil finish a piece of wood repeatedly until in essence; the oil will FILL as deep as possible, and may in fact be the SURFACE finish.
Steven Wolf
2007-09-17 13:50:51 · answer #1 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, nothing that can be applied to the surface strengthens wood. It may protect the surface, the color, or inhibit mold and mildew in outdoor projects, but nothing actually strengthens the structure. Only proper construction techniques, hardware, materials, and well engineered designs do that. Most plant based oils offer a little protection against moisture but none offer the type that a good petroleum based product will. If it's to be applied to anything that comes in contact with food, only use salad bowl oil because it is approved for those applications, inhibits microbiological growth, and once cured, has no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's), which are harmful to humans.
2016-03-18 07:49:52 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While it is important to feed raw wood with oil, oil finishing does not strengthen the wood.
You would need a good high solid silicone based epoxy clear coat that protects your wood to do that like Top Secret Coatings One Part Epoxy Clear Coat. It will water proof your wood, protect from UV damage, scratches, and much more.
Though oil finishing looks beautiful, I don't think it is what you are looking for.
Good luck.
2007-09-17 14:07:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil finishing with, say, linseed oil allows the oil to soak into the wood, which provides a moisture barrier to preserve the wood. An example of using linseed oil to finish wood is a gun stock (the wood part of a rifle). You use many thin coats, lightly sanding between coats with very fine sand paper, until you get a very smooth, hard finish. You can then apply additional coats every year or so to keep the finish polished and shiny.
2007-09-17 13:31:39 · answer #4 · answered by Paul in San Diego 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Finishing makes wood more durable to water, weather, and wear. You can get water based finishes too :) which are also less harmful and less smelly. Unless you have a butcher block cutting board. Then you use actual oil (olive oil even will work) ... It will help keep it shiny and nice looking.
2007-09-17 13:26:25 · answer #5 · answered by usourselvesandourcats 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It penetrates and protects it. Depending on where this wood is-a table a floor whatever, it will protect, but, polyeurethane is best if its already stained that is. I have a bookcase my dad and I built and I put linseed oil on it, that's it, no other sealer. But, making it stronger I don't know.
2007-09-17 15:07:23 · answer #6 · answered by dtwladyhawk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil will keep the wood from drying out and becoming brittle over time. It will not make the wood stronger, it will only help preserve the woods inherent strength.
2007-09-17 13:22:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋