Woodworking Finishing Question

[JOD]

Fellow wood destroyers,

I'm finishing some clear fir doors and windows (interior), and I'm using Watco's Danish finish in natural, this stuff here: LINK

It is absolutely perfect for the application, and I've been really happy with results. Still, I'm a cheap....er...thrifty sort, and I can't get past the feeling that I would make this myself for about 1/4 the price. I can get pure tung oil, etc from a local Woodcraft, and mix my own, but I'm at a loss on what/how to mix this stuff. Anyone have any suggestions? Stop whining and just buy the Watco stuff?? I'm going to be doing a bunch of CVG fir windows, which are completely dry after being unfinished for about 10 years. Thanks!

 

[sleddriver]

Fine Woodworking has had articles in the past about mixing your own finish. Also, look up books by Flexner & Dresden.

 

[Astro14]

Watco's is great, easy to use and repair - worth getting a book on finishing to understand the difference between a penetrating finish, film-forming, etc...

IIRC - Watco's is an oil/varnish mix. If you mix roughly 1/3 Varnish, 1/3 Turpentine, and 1/3 Linseed Oil (boiled, if you want it to dry this century...boiled means that metallic dryers have been added), you'll get a century-old approximation of Watco...

But don't trust my memory (that recipe was my grandfather's for finishing, and I don't remember the proportions)...check out a book from the library and read up...