Definitely seeing the same thing here—oil by itself just doesn’t cut it for tables that get daily use. I’ve tried tung oil alone on my 1920s sideboard, and it looked gorgeous at first, but water rings and fingerprints started showing up after a few weeks.
- Layering oil and wax seems to give a more durable finish, especially for pieces that see a lot of action (kitchen table, stair railings, etc.).
- Letting the oil cure fully is key. Rushed it once and ended up with a tacky mess that took forever to buff out.
- I’ve noticed paste wax buffs out smoother than liquid wax for me—less streaky, more even sheen.
- For historic woodwork, I do like how this combo keeps the grain visible without that plasticky look you get from polyurethane.
One thing I’ll add: humidity seems to affect how long the oil takes to cure. In summer, I have to wait almost a week before waxing or it just never sets right. Not sure if anyone else has run into that...
- I’ve noticed paste wax buffs out smoother than liquid wax for me—less streaky, more even sheen. - For historic woodwork, I do like how this combo keeps the grain visible without that plastick...
That humidity thing is real—last summer I refinished a maple desk and the oil just wouldn’t cure. I thought I’d messed up the ratio or something. Ended up moving it near a fan for days. Also agree, paste wax seems to go on way smoother for me too. Polyurethane always looks a bit too “new” for my taste, especially on older pieces.
Humidity is a pain, right? I tried doing a tung oil finish on a bookshelf in August and it felt tacky for days. Thought I’d ruined it, but it finally set after I left the windows open overnight. Paste wax has been way more forgiving for me—less stress about streaks or weird spots. Poly just feels like a plastic shell sometimes... I like seeing the wood actually look like wood. Maybe it’s just nostalgia, but waxed surfaces remind me of old houses I grew up in.
Paste wax has been way more forgiving for me—less stress about streaks or weird spots. Poly just feels like a plastic shell sometimes...
I get what you mean about poly—sometimes it just looks too “finished,” if that makes sense. I’ve run into the same humidity issue with oil finishes, especially in older homes where airflow isn’t great. Have you ever tried a hardwax oil? It’s kind of a hybrid—penetrates like oil but gives a bit more protection than straight wax. I’ve used it on floors in rentals and it holds up better than paste wax, but still keeps that natural look. Curious if you’ve noticed wax needing more frequent touch-ups, though? That’s been my only gripe with it on high-traffic surfaces.
I’ve had the same issue with wax—on my kitchen floors, it looked great at first but I was buffing out scuffs every couple of months. It’s not a huge deal, but it does get old if you’ve got pets or kids running around. Tried Osmo hardwax oil on a stair tread project last year and honestly, it’s held up way better than I expected. Still looks like wood, but doesn’t show every little mark. Poly just never felt right to me either... too shiny, almost fake.
