Ornery questions: If BLO doesn't really build into a film finish, what is its value other than to make the grain pop? If that is the only value - and you need to go back and add wax or polyurethane, or such for both protection and shine.... what is the value of adding a bunch of coats of BLO?
A few reasons. First, different woods soak in different amounts, so saying X number of coats is always right is not possible. Some woods will sink in three coats and some will basically reject a second coat until a year later (looking at you oily African and South American woods). Second, imo most people don't put enough on and don't let it sit long enough, so a second and third coat can help make up for that. Third, it adds some minor water and dirt protection with more coats. If you get the subsurface properly coated you buy yourself a bit more time if you were to spill some water and needed to wipe it off. Fourth, it will generally increase the time between needing to re-coat. Lot's of DIY people go to the box store and buy it because their furniture looks "dry". They will get longer between reapplication, especially if they don't do it right the first time, by doing two or three coats in a three day span. Finally, it will eventually build one up, and imo you can sort of control the level more than Tung Oil Blends, so if you just want the lightest little film look it will allow you to find the sweet spot, albeit with more time consumed doing so. In the end, it is primarily an aesthetic finish. It's meant to pop the wood, and more coats (2-3) will keep that color longer between re-application.
Timestamps:
- Characteristics - 0:00-8:07
- Application - 8:08-10:59
- 1st Coat Results - 11:00-12:58
- 2nd Coat Results - 12:58-14:38
- 3rd Coat Results - 14:39-END
Ornery questions: If BLO doesn't really build into a film finish, what is its value other than to make the grain pop? If that is the only value - and you need to go back and add wax or polyurethane, or such for both protection and shine.... what is the value of adding a bunch of coats of BLO?
A few reasons. First, different woods soak in different amounts, so saying X number of coats is always right is not possible. Some woods will sink in three coats and some will basically reject a second coat until a year later (looking at you oily African and South American woods).
Second, imo most people don't put enough on and don't let it sit long enough, so a second and third coat can help make up for that.
Third, it adds some minor water and dirt protection with more coats. If you get the subsurface properly coated you buy yourself a bit more time if you were to spill some water and needed to wipe it off.
Fourth, it will generally increase the time between needing to re-coat. Lot's of DIY people go to the box store and buy it because their furniture looks "dry". They will get longer between reapplication, especially if they don't do it right the first time, by doing two or three coats in a three day span.
Finally, it will eventually build one up, and imo you can sort of control the level more than Tung Oil Blends, so if you just want the lightest little film look it will allow you to find the sweet spot, albeit with more time consumed doing so.
In the end, it is primarily an aesthetic finish. It's meant to pop the wood, and more coats (2-3) will keep that color longer between re-application.