I’m not a big fan of oil finishes but I had some cherry kitchen cabinets that the customer insisted be done in oil. I used Watco Danish Oil, natural tint, and followed the directions, wiped it off real good. It looks pretty good but after 24 hours, the surface remained a little sticky. I applied a second helping and again, after overnight, it was still tacky. The humidity here runs about 50 %, the temperature while I applied the oil stayed in the 60’s and 70’s. Why wouldn’t it dry? Did I not wait long enough? I guess that’s why I like varnish – when it dries, it’s dry. How can I get rid of the stickiness without removing what little sheen the oil left?
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The oil could be out of date, and will never harden. I have always had good results with Watco, never took more than overnight to set up. I would get some solvent and wipe off all the excess, let it dry well, then apply from a fresh can.
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I've seen it take seven days to cure.
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Well I do remember trying to rush it one time, and applied a coat of poly beofre it was ready. 3-4 days later I was trying to get back to bare wood so I could do it again. But I never remember watco taking that long, I thought it had japan driers to get it to set up relatively quickly."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I am certainly not a paint chemist, but my understanding is that japan drier is an accelerant to make the carriers flash off or evaporate faster. it does nothing to promote curing. in the sorts of finishes that 'dry', the carrier evaps and leaves the solids to lay together. But these oils need oxygen to react with the catylst to make them harden.
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This product does not dry. It cures. When you apply a second coat before the first cures, you compound your problem. The first coat will now not get exposure to oxygen in the air to make it cure.
Heat and fans moving air helps.
You need patiencce
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I've never been fond of straight Watco, too thin. Mixed with about 1/4 polyurethane, good body. I flood the first coat, then immediately flood a second coat. Let dry (no wiping), generally 24 hrs suffices. Surface will be rough.
Wet sand with progressively finer grit (depending on finish expectation), using the same Watco/poly mix. Wipe dry after each wet sanding. This accomplishes two things: smoothes the surface and gives a filler for open pores.
Most think they're looking at a lacquer finish. But no stripping, ever, and dings no problem. Takes about a month to develop adequate water-resistance.
I'd go straight to wet sanding on your project. Never had a problem with Watco sitting around for several years. Oil finishes can be great, if time-consuming (expensive).
Good luck. Here's an example, intentionally low-sheen.
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