Danish oil serves the function of a wooden product cover.
When the surface of wooden furniture is brushed using Danish oil, wait until the oil finish is fully dry, and then put polyurethane on top of the oil finishing.
A polyurethane over a Danish oil finish will trim the maintenance problem.
Danish oil dries pretty quickly. Although it has a harsh smell and the smell stays longer, Danish oil dries faster. Moreover, it only needs 24 hours to cure. Multiple coats, however, take more than a day to be dried and cured. You can apply polyurethane when the danish oil dries and cures properly (2 or 3 days).
Can Polyurethane Be Applied On Top Of Danish Oil?
You can apply brush-on and wipe-on methods to put the coat on top of the danish oil.
It would be best if you learned about the wipe-on and brush-on methods when dealing with surfaces with patterns and the spray method on the hard-to-surfaces that are hard to reach.
In addition, Danish oil can work well with polyurethane cover.
It won’t be sticky, however. Besides, people use the wiping technique more than any others, so it is recommended to use the wipe-on technique when applying polyurethane on top of danish oil.
How Many Water-Based Coats Polyurethane Should You Use?
At least 3 to 4 coats are enough to give basic protection. After that, it is up to you to decide how much more polyurethane you want to add. Doing extra maintenance coats every few years as enhancement is a good idea.
What is Polyurethane?
Polyurethane is a urethane polymer similar to polythene. Those two are plastic materials created for various items and common consumer goods. However, they are not the same. The differences between both lie in their chemical ingredients and usages.
Polyurethane is mainly used to create foam. This foam is the one you find in furniture that is padded. Polyurethane is also a very versatile polymer.
Furthermore, due to its elastic materials, it can act as a fiber and an elastomer. Polyurethane is one of the ingredients for manufacturing adhesives and paints. Not only that, but it is also a basis for making lycra and spandex. They are artificial materials mainly used in clothing.
Polyethylene was founded in 1933 by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson. They were two researchers who founded this substance. They work at a British firm industry called Imperial Chemical Industries.
Besides the affordable price of producing polyethylene, it is also durable, flexible, and can resist chemicals. Then Dr. Otto Bayer from German invented polyurethane a couple of years later.
After the Second World War ended, polyurethane was widely used. It is used extensively to manufacture furniture padding, insulation, and mattresses.
The differences between polyethylene and polyurethane are that the former contains thermoplastic resin. It means that polyethylene is made with easily recyclable material.
They are broken down and remade to become a new product. Polyurethane is a little bit different. It is made of thermoset resin. Polyurethane has two parts that are mixed to make a chain of chemicals. When the polyurethane is hardened (cured), it is impossible to reverse the melt and reform it again to become another item.
Types of polyurethane
You will find many different products out there, some of which are safe and others that are not.
As always, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Some brands of polyurethane contain solvents that can dissolve the underlying coating.
Other brands contain compounds that are more likely to harm the finish.
Make sure you choose a product made specifically for use on exterior surfaces.
We will show you a few types of polyurethane so you know if it is safe to put polyurethane on danish oil.
Water-Based Polyurethane
You can protect your piece’s surface with water-based polyurethane.
Water-based polyurethane cover dries quicker than the oil-based counterpart.
The water-based polyurethane does not provide any color alteration once the mixture has dried. Moreover, this water-based type of polyurethane doesn’t have any smell.
You can use water-based polyurethane on top of Danish oil after the finishing has dried evenly. Please wait 48 hours (2 0r three days) for the polyurethane to integrate with a danish coat, and then dry it properly before applying a water-based polyurethane cover.
Spar Urethane
Spar urethane is less strong Compared to other polyurethane covers. Spar urethane is also more prone to damage.
Spar urethane can’t defend against chemicals, e.g., Alcohol. However, it can prevent direct sunlight damage, water damage, and temperature changes.
You can use spar urethane over the Danish oil coat only after the coating has dried completely; otherwise, there is a chance of oil getting into the urethane during application.
Oil-based Type of Polyurethane
Oil-based type of polyurethane is money-saving. This type of polyurethane is widely used because it is more lasting than other coatings. It has little color difference from the water type of polyurethane.
The finish from this coating is softer, so it easily dents. It also smells harsh. However, it will stay longer on top of the surface.
After the oil has fully dried, you can use this oil-based coating on top of the danish oil piece surface.
Minwax Polyurethane
This Minwax Polyurethane has been the top brand choice to help finish related woodworking works since 1904. Numerous products serve as a cover-up to the wooden projects. This product defends from stains on wooden pieces or surfaces.
The company mainly manufactures oil-based products.
You can apply Minwax polyurethane on top of the danish oil, but you need to double-check if the danish oil is dried thoroughly before applying this polyurethane.
Can You Blend Danish oil with polyurethane?
Water and oil do not mix; therefore, neither do water-based and oil-based polyurethane. In addition, water-based poly can only adhere after danish oil is cured.
On the contrary, if polyurethane is applied before the danish oil dries properly, it does not stick.
You can mix Danish oil with polyurethane, and Even though Danish oil does not require sealing, you can combine it with polyurethane to increase its hardness and longevity.
The Advantages of using Polyurethane over Danish Oil
It would be best if you used polyurethane as a sealant in your furniture for many reasons. Polyurethane is easier to clean up spills and has a greater capacity to resist dirt accumulation. Polyurethane also dries quicker and holds color better than Danish oil.
- Sustain Durability
The finishing of Danish oil is not durable, so it needs frequent maintenance to keep it in good shape. If not properly maintained, the durability wears out over time. Dust and water are factors that can deteriorate the endurance of danish oil.
That’s why you need to apply another protection layer using polyurethane to increase durability. Polyurethane is good for protection from water and dust as it works as a plastic protector.
- Add Beauty To The Wooden Piece
Danish oil coating provides an added beauty to your wooden surface. However, it is only temporary. The color inevitably fades away after some time. It is easy to apply danish oil, but the hard part is keeping it last longer.
That’s why using polyurethane on top of the danish oil can increase the look of the surface. If the oil-based is used, it will prolong the coat for years.
- Protect The Surface Against Scratches
The ingredient of polyurethane has a softer effect on the outside. It also has a padding property. For this reason, applying polyurethane on top of danish oil prevents the surface from scratches and dust.
When dust appears on top of a wooden piece, you can mop it a little to make the surface clean again.
- It Can Repel Damage From Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
Polyurethane can also protect the surface from contamination caused by Ultraviolet rays. UV rays damage the surface of your wooden piece and make the fiber so frail that it can break easily. UV rays can also decrease the wood surface’s property. As a result, water can easily get into it.
FAQ and Other types of finishes Over Danish oil
To seal Danish oil finishes, apply any oil-based varnish, resin, or polyurethane. The list and recommendations for sealing your furniture are provided below.
Wax finish over Danish oil
Waxing over Danish oil isn’t going to be an issue as long as the Danish oil has had a few days to cure and isn’t crusty or pooling up out of the pores. Wax will not form an “air-tight” coating that prevents the Danish oil from curing.
Shellac on top of Danish Oil
One application of Danish Oil is required; apply as directed and allow to dry entirely before top-coating with shellac.
Sand between coats of Danish oil
Danish oil takes time to dry, so you should wait until the next day to put on another layer. And because it goes on thin, you’ll need at least three coats. There will be no brush traces, but the finish will be even smoother if you lightly “wet” sand between the second and third applications.
Time for Danish oil takes to cure fully.
Let the piece rest for at least eight hours. Before each coat, rub the surface with a soft cloth or 0000 steel wool (even the first and last.) The shine looks better the more you rub the surface. More coats make the shine deeper and add more protection.
Stain over Danish oil
Danish Oil can be used on surfaces that have already been oiled. It is best to test a small area on a surface that has already been stained or dyed to ensure the Danish oil gives the desired result.
Lacquer or polyurethane can be applied to a Danish oil in the same way as it can be applied to any Drying Oil. Ensure that the oil has completely dried before proceeding. When the oil dried, it hardened into a hard, solid layer to which objects now adhere.
Polyurethane over Minwax tung oil
Polyurethane can be used to seal tung oil. Tung oil is a penetrative drying oil but does not provide a long-lasting waterproof finish. Applying polyurethane varnish on Tung oiled wood further protects it from water damage, scratches, and discoloration.
Polyurethane takes to cure fully.
When applied over Danish oil, neither oil-based nor water-based polyurethane has any negative consequences. It sticks nicely to Danish oil, but only if the previous coat has had enough time to dry (up to 48 hours).
Danish oil over polyurethane
- It is advisable not to put this finish on previously sealed wood because it works by soaking into the wood, and sealed wood will not allow the oil to soak in. That is, it should not be used on painted wood or wood that has been sealed with a varnish, lacquer, or poly finish.
- So, if you want to put a Danish oil finish on something, don’t put polyurethane on first. The Danish oil sits on top of the varnish, leaving a sticky deposit, and t wasn’t going to stay on.
- The answer is no if you want to utilize water-based polyurethane. Finishers call them “film finishes” because they make a coating that won’t let Danish oils pass through.
- It all relies on what’s in the ‘polyurethane’ container. Polyurethane was initially available in two-can packages. You couldn’t fool with it because it had to be blended in specific amounts. The chemistry involved has progressed much beyond that point, and today’s formulas are tolerable.
Please read the label on the can; it should provide some guidance. You can prepare the object’s surface by sanding it or cleaning it thoroughly with thinners.
