An oil finish can consist of a single oil or many different oils and resins combined to make the finish perform set and appear differently.

Characteristics: Suitable for heavy use , hard wearing, water resistant easily repaired.

Common uses: furniture , floors , joinery.

Wax finishes consist of mainly bees wax. This is more often mixed with various solvents to help spread a thin layer of wax. These solvents vary greatly with modern brands.

Characteristics. suitable for heavy use, quiet often combined with other finishes to protect the base finish. must be maintained. semi water resistant. easily repaired maintained.

Common uses: furniture, tool handles, wooden equipment.

Shellac is sold in many different ways from solid button to liquid all varying greatly in purity and workability, the solid shellac is dissolved in a alcohol solvent. Quality and purity of base material is a huge factor in the end result.

Characteristics. not water resistant, not heat resistant, will require maintenance approx every decade. high transparency, vibrant colour and grain definition. Easily repaired.

Common uses. high end furniture, high end joinery . mainly used with tight grained hardwoods such as rosewood, mahogany, wallnut , kingwood.

Synthetic finishes now vary from varnishes to lacquers, these vary from country to country depending on regulation. They also vary from supplier to supplier. The best way to research a finish is to consult the manufacturer recommendations. Bearing that in mind allot of non synthetic finishes are working over 200 years, tried and tested , some modern synthetics have had chequered short term results with the introduction of water based. Results can vary greatly as these finishes modify and change.

Characteristics: Strong, durable, hard wearing, weather resistant. normally irreparable, must be stripped sanded refinished. approx every decade.

Common uses. furniture, joinery, external joinery,