We are honored to be reviewed by Marc, a true craftsman who we all admire. Many thanks for putting so much effort for this fair and informative analyses. We believe all brands share the same goal, which is making easy to use, affordable, environmental friendly and sustainable high quality products for woodworking community. We will keep working hard to improve our products and supply the best solutions to woodworkers.
First, thank you so much for this comprehensive analysis of these products! Second, that is one of my all time favorite movies! It’s my person opinion, that there isn’t a one size fits all product and anyone of these would be fine for certain jobs. DIY Wife used Rubio stains on a huge hutch build but can’t remember if she used their 2c hard wax. Now I have to go back and watch. Again, thanks for all the time you spent on this, it was truly very informative and I was schooled on hard wax finishes! 👍🏻
Thank you very much for the honest and thorough approach to your testing! We're very excited we're we ranked in your testing. Thank you very much for the publicity of our products!
We build furniture everyday and use several different finishes. The one thing that concerned me was the change in color after setting out overnight. Should I be concerned about that? Any idea what caused that change compared to the others?
We thank Marc very much for this info. I am a hobbyist and have never tried any of these. Mainly because I only knew of Rubio. The cost to me was a no go. So I will be trying rustic on my first time out.
To say a company "might be in trouble" after performing a biased (he prefers more sheen) and subjective comparison is laughably all speculation and click bait.
Me personally, as a hobbyist/artist/small business - the one barrier to using Rubio before was the price. Knowing there are cheaper products with similar results, gives me hope.
Rubio does go a long way a 100ml bottle top bottom 4x8 if anything its for hobbyists should love it because it's ease of use. Price comparative when you factor in time/coats/durability factors. only 150 grit needed.
I recently used Rubio for the first time to finish a chessboard. The price was the reason I hadn't tried it sooner. But the saying "a little goes a long way" couldn't be more true when talking about Rubio. I was amazed at how little it took to finish the chessboard and how easy it is to apply. That said, I will be trying these other products in the future.
I saw a video by ENCurtis recently that was discussing differences between UA-cam/influencer woodworking channels and professional woodworking practices, and that was one of the things he mentioned. Rubio is one of the most popular finishes on UA-cam, but he said that Osmo was much more common in the professional shops he had worked in
A little goes a long way with Natura also. I recently decided to give it a try, and used 60g of finish and 20g of hardener to put two coats on a recipe box I was making. I had enough left over to give a small coffee table 2 coats as well.
Drop the Mic Marc! This is absolutely the reason why I support this channel. TWW brings more knowledge than most woodworking channels and he has the years of experience to back it up! Fantastic video and better information. The spinning cans turned out perfect thanks to Jason!
The nice thing about Osmo is that they have several different options for hard wax oil (matte, satin, semi-matte, transparent, different hues). And they offer cheap samples, so I just ordered 6 of them and tested them on some birch plywood. Really affordable and nice way to pick out the specific oil that fits best with the wood species you're working on.
Bravo to General Finishes for putting the hardener in a container that is actually easy to use and close. I inevitably get that pull-out spout thing completely covered and stuck inside the little can.
The quality of your videos has gone up dramatically in the past year or two. Not having to worry about sponsors has significantly improved your channel IMO. Thanks for the excellent test! I've been finishing all my furniture with Rubio for several years now. Looks like it's time to give Natura a try!
Thank you for making this video. I've been using Rubio for a few years and whilst it's a good finish, there is absolutely no reason for it to be as expensive as it is. In Australia we're paying about USD$270 for the 1.3L tin where as in the US it seems to be ~$180.
I'm glad you mentioned personal preference regarding sheen. I rely on gloss for durability. But from an aesthetics point of view, less sheen lets us see more color and grain which looks better than white light glaring back at me.
As a hobbyist who wants to move into having my own business one day, this was amazingly helpful. Thanks for the time and effort that you put into this. Well done!
It is easier to make it if you focus on built in furniture such as kitchens, closets, book cases and so on. It is much harder to compete in the stand alone furniture field due to the sheer volume of cheap mass produced furniture.
Thanks, cost is always a problem. It is a problem because I tend to buy a bunch of products and test them. Since you did it I could save some $. But protection is important for me, so I need to find a way to make poly look awesome.
Congrats on creating a very clear and thorough video on hard wax oil options! One apparently unique feature of Rubio (at least among the example included in this test) is the wide range of color options available - I am partial to Midnight Indigo and Velvet Green... If you (or anyone who happens to see this reply) is aware of a method for adding color to hard wax oils I would love to learn about it.
I am glad to hear that you have found this book to be very informative and helpful for your woodworking project ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO It sounds like you are well prepared and confident to build furniture for your house. I commend you and your friend for your enthusiasm and willingness to learn new things from this book. I hope you enjoy your woodworking journey and create some beautiful pieces.
I bought a small can of Rubio and it was insanely expensive ($130/350ml), so while I had some I came up with a recipe of my own and tested it with the Rubio hardener. It worked the same. I can't tell the difference, so it works for me. I'm trying to work out where to buy the hardener by itself at reasonable cost and I'll be set. Here's the recipe: On an electric hot-plate outdoors, double boil 1/2 cup pure tung oil, 1/2 cup boiled linseed oil, 15g carnauba wax, 1.5g white (capping) beeswax until the waxes have melted and mixed in. Take off the stove to cool and while it's still warm, not hot, add 1/2 cup of citrus terpene and stir in. Cool to room temperature and put a lid on. Apply just like Rubio - sparingly, not flood coat. If you don't have a hardener it could take anywhere up to 30 days to fully cure. I have a Scandinavian oil (similar oils but no wax instead it's marine spar varnish) in the same kind of container (Ball mason jars) and it starts to go hard in the jar after a while but my hard wax oil recipe is still all liquid and mixed, hasn't separated.
Marc, I took a while responding to this video because I needed the time to try your recommendations on the two "winning" hard wax oil products in your excellent test. Having used Rubio in the past, I can tell you that both of these competitors are virtually identical in their final presentation, just as you said. However, Rustic Lumber provided nearly 3x the quantity of product for the same price as the other "winner." For me, that makes it the clear choice going forward as the final results are superb and definitely a Rubio competitor, finish-wise. As always your videos are superb and informative as can be.
I have now watched this review twice. Once when it first came out and again today when I wanted to review it again. Great work as usual Marc. You are highly credible and do not loan your reputation to others. I am about to order my first of a two component finish and this was very helpful. Thank you for all that you do! I truly appreciate your work. All the Best!
Extremely, EXTREMELY well done video. You’ve put a lot of thought into this video…results, benefits, possible perceived bias, sustainability and ecological considerations. It made me question, but more importantly it encouraged me to think and to become more open minded. Thank you for your time, energy, honesty, and professionalism.
This has been incredibly thorough, fair and helpful, thank you! I've used Rubio a number of times on furniture for my home, but the cost just hurts. I can't wait to give Natura a try for my current project!
I've been pretty much only using traditional oils for a while now and have been planning to switch to one of these hardwax oils, but with the price of Rubio and Osmo I just can't justify it yet. I'm very interested in the Natura Onecoat, so far I can't find it in Canada but it seem like one I would love to try out. What I'm most interested in testing is how these hardwax oils compare to traditional finishes like Tried & True oils, because at those very different price points I know I can do about 4-6 coats of the traditional oil for the same price as one coat of the hardwax oils and since both styles of finishes only really add protection against liquids it would be an interesting comparison.
I just used Rubio for the first time a few weeks ago. I was happy with it. It goes a long way, easy to apply, looks great, and has no nasty smells. But the price is a bit much. Had I seen this video before buying it, I would have tried Natura instead.
I'm astounded at the effort and thought that went into testing these. Thank you for the time you put in! I've only used Rubio before now, but will check out Osmo next time.
Thank you for this video. I am a DIY newbie and almost finished applying Rubio to a floor. Unfortunately I did not purchase enough product, ugh. I went with Rubio because they have lots of instructions on their website. In the future I plan to do a larger room and was considering Natura for economic reasons since I now have a better understanding of the process. Your video confirmed my own brand research.
Couldn’t come out at a better time, my Rubio just ran out. Going to try that natura now. I’ve had my eye on it for a while but hadn’t seen much about it. Thanks for a great vid
Rockler now sells Rubio, which will definitely help them. Also, they sell the oil & hardener separate now with twist-caps, which is the way it should be. I always do 1 coat of Rubio followed by 1 coat of the maintenance oil.
@@mitchallen55 Rubio makes a maintenance oil that goes on top of the regular coat. It provides slightly more durability and added sheen. If you need to touch up the table you can just use that instead of the 2-part Rubio.
I just want to say after watching this, I can truly say that your information was just what I needed to make a decision on my next guitar finish. I will apply some hard wax polish to increase durability. Thanks so much!!
I am a long time hobbyist in woodworking and have been using Waterlox and ArmRSeal for small tables etc. I have been interested to maybe change what I use and found your video informative and really thorough. Thank You for such a great video.
Being a small shop owner, NaturaOnecoat will be something I will add to my top coat finishes. Every penny saved helps keep the shop open. Mahalo for the video info. Very informative channel🤙🏾🤙🏾
This is superb--hanks so much this presentation, Marc. ALSO--I strongly support you doing "theme" shows on Fridays--focusing on a particular tool, intervention, or some other aspect of working with wood. I've owned a Laguna bandsaw for 20 + years, and love it, but always think I can learn more (especially about getting brave enough to cut "free-handed", not using the fence). And even if I don't have the tool you were working on--like the jointer, for example, it is a pleasure to learn something new. Keep up the great work.
Great video Marc! Very interesting and wish I had seen it before I spent so much money on a can of Rubio just to try it out and compare to the Osmo I’ve been using!
Super interesting video. I started using Rubio monocoat when I first got into woodworking because that’s what all the UA-cam woodworkers recommended. I did notice that my wax would harden up after only using about half of the container. This is despite quickly sealing the container after each use. Very frustrating! I would essentially end up wasting half of a container because I wouldn’t use it up before it would harden over. I’ve decided to start using oil finishes like tung oil for deeper penetration into the wood, which should allow for longer protection. Thanks for doing this video!
be very careful who you watch on youtube as a new woodworker. try and watch people who actually make for a living rather than a weekend hobbyist. there is so much misinformation on this media by so called experts (retired furniture maker).
I too have been using Tung oil for all my current projects. As a home hobbyist, I can spend the extra time it takes to lay on all those extra coats. Especially when seeing the trick of applying them in very light coats to avoid future oil seepage.
@TaylerMade I completely agree. You have to be judicious about the advice you take from UA-cam woodworkers. The first woodworker I followed on UA-cam was blacktail studios, who does professional high-end epoxy tables. He almost exclusively uses Rubio monocoat, but then covers it with a ceramic-like nano coating. Overall, I really like Rubio, but it’s very expensive and I’m realizing it’s not as protective as something like tung oil.
Thank you so much for this excellent review! Rubio is so expensive and I'm excited to try something with less cost. I love wood working and am still learning!
I'm glad you call Isocyante a hardener rather than the disingenuous accelerator that Rubio call it. I think Rubio would win as King of Colour. I know not often promoted on UA-cam, but they do have an amazing range of 'colors' that I'd urge everyone to take a look at rather than just using Pure on every project. Things like Black or Chocolate on walnut can look amazing.
I recently refinished two walnut tables with Rubio - sanded very carefully through all the grits to 150. Applied two coats, buffing with a maroon pad before the second coat. Let both tables cure for 5 days (used with the hardener). The tables look great, but they lack any water resistance. A glass of cold water will leave a water stain in just a few seconds. What did I do wrong? Did I remove too much finish with the shop towel? Would a third coat help?
Finishing is my Achilles heel! This vid lead to the wiping video, then to the finishing playlist. Can you say rabbit hole?! Thanks for all you do on my journey to being a better wood worker! You (and Oreo) rock.
For people in The Netherlands, or wherever the big orange DIY Superstore lives, Hornbach, they do their own hard-wax oil (and a whole series of finishing products). And it's pretty great, and relatively cheap.
Thanks so much for this great hardwax oil bake-off! Super helpful. Can you please clarify -- are the 2K finishes more durable than their non-2K versions? Or do they just cure quicker? Thanks!
Great video. I love that you talked about these 2C finishes setting up. I have wasted so much money on cans of Monocoat that set up because I didn’t use them fast enough. I pretty much need to buy a new can for every project unless I'm going through a can of finish every few days - so I tend to buy the smallest quantity that I can. That, plus the fact that 2C finishes are annoying and I always seem to mix too little or too much, have pushed me towards single coat wax/oil finishes with long shelf lives. My favorite so far is Tried & True Varnish Oil - it seems to last forever in the can, builds a really nice finish after a few coats, and is very easy to apply. It would be great to see a video with a few of the popular 2C finishes and a few 1C finishes like Odie’s Oil, Tried & True, and Osmo PolyX. I’ve done some tests myself and found that Monocoat tends to protect better than 1C finishes but the difference wasn’t big enough for me to deal with the drawbacks. PS: I haven’t used Osmo K2 but Osmo PolyX with 3 coats looks soooo much better than Monocoat - this is subjective of course like you mention, but man, it’s a night and day difference for me.
Yesss, I really wish that the osmo polyx and some of the Odie’s products had been included. I’ve used a few of them as well as the main osmo oil and Rubio, but I’d really love to see how they repair in an overall controlled experiment like this. It especially feels like the Odie’s oil products don’t have enough good tests and comparisons that you can find online - which is a shame cause it definitely has the longest shelf life in my experience, which is nice, and its my favorite finish to have to repair even though I feel like it isn’t as scuff resistant as the others. And I’d almost want a whole set of tests for just the few mainline Odie’s products, ‘cause I still feel like I’m just going off of vibes when I look at the main Odie’s oil vs the wood butter etc, (I feel like the wood butter might be the secret king tho).
Durability testing should be real world use for a decade. Ceramic coatings work well on highly smooth surfaces like metal. I think unless you have a lacquer smooth surface, why bother?
I am an Osmo guy. This confirms my bias towards the best-looking. I very much appreciate you performing this test, and it will cause me to look at the alternatives.
My big brother, got sick...GOT BETTER, regain his ability to " screw around in the garage" and short of it all....learned to love birds like his little sister, that's me and started making bird feeders, bird houses etc, b4 you know it his daughter set up an Etsy acct and he tinkers with wood building said feeders/ bird houses to custom things...consoles, decor inside & outside etc etc. So my point is...this was EXTREMELY helpful to him & I was simply pleased to receive a lengthy ( I'm not a fan of the "Shorts") video from you again! So thx you for all the info my brother is now moling over for his benefit and thx you for posting. ID love to see more from you in your shop like we used too! Nonetheless I'm not going anywhere...I've been a fan 4 years.
Excellent review! I am a "small shop" hobby woodworker and I have been very happy with the ease of use and results that I achieve with Rubio. However, now that I have watched this video, the next finish that I will give a go is Nature One Coat, based upon the information you presented. Thank you for being objective in your review, stating up front that you didn't want any finish to fail. Peace
I just watched "3 - DIY Refinishing" from 10 years ago and what a difference 10 years make! You looked like a baby...also your tatoos are not limited to only your bicepts as far as I can see. Congradulations on your channel's longevity.
The King is Dead! Thanks for putting in the grunt work to evaluate all of these new entries into the hardwax oil space. I've been particularly curious about the General Finishes offering, but it is good to see all of these examples put through their paces. After watching this I'll probably check out the Osmo... I've had good luck with the Polyx but have been missing the great sheen from a varnish, hopefully this two part option will hit both marks.
Great segment! Do you have a video review or recommendation for most durable birch plywood workbench top finish? I want something super durable and it's unclear if these 2C oil finishes are the answer. Thanks for any suggestions from the community. (Hi Nichole!)
Wow that was great! Extremely valuable information for the novice wood worker and diy’er! I’m super grateful for the time and energy you put into this video.
Excellent video, content was covered awesomely. Thank you for all you do. I have been a fan of yours for quite some time, and you never disappoint. Thanks again for the great video.
Hi 👋, very interesting, when storing products, including paint, it might be worth store them upside down, making sure that the lid is on securely and tight, this is something I learnt many many years ago as I am now in the 70s. I hope there’s gonna be some help to somebody, Ps this even works with things like jam that has a tendency to grow mould on top, I keep my jam in the fridge upside down and so long as it doesn’t get contaminated with the butter or anything like that. It will stay safe for a long time… Phil from the moulin France.
I recently had a "rookie" shop error...I left a one use container of Rubio unsealed. It may have been a month in between projects and when I went to finish my epoxy infilled live edge ash computer desk...I had only hardened finish. Ticked off at myself...I went on Amazon and for the first time saw @NaturaOnecoat listing for a good deal less than my standby Rubio. So, I bought it. My Ash project finished very similarly to my other Rubio projects...so, I was satisfied. I did not do side by side comparisons. You made my day giving the overall winner to Natura. I feel better now about my mistake...because I don't know if I would have ever switched. Many thanks!
I'm only a few minutes in to the video so far and 1). I'd not heard of most of these, even though I regularly visit my local Woodcraft and hard wood dealers. 2) I recently started buying Osmo (the non-hardener mix type) because I simply can NOT find Rubio anywhere locally, 3) checking Amazon I can many of these same day or next day, whereas I can't get Rubio in anything less than a week. Thank you for highlighting some of these even though I haven't gotten to the results yet. I've been frustrated with the lack of Rubio locally, and was worried (until I tried it) that the Osmo without the hardener wasn't going to cure or be workable/packable quickly enough. I was wrong. Thanks, Marc.
Thanks for this, Marc. As expected, you provided in-depth, thorough, exhaustive testing with "actionable" results. But using a CAT scanner is next level!
Awesome video! I love the in-depth and unbiased approach you take to get the best results in your tests! I think I speak for most when I say these videos are super helpful and I truly appreciate you doing the types of test I’d want to do, to find the best product given the time, recourses, finances etc!
I just tried Rubio fir the first time this weekend. I found it hard to spread and didn't like the schene on it after i was done. Actually finished to a different finish after my first attempts. I really appreciated your comparisons of the different finishes. I will certainly keep this video in mind for future projects!
As a hobbyist/small business I've never tried Rubio. Mostly because of the price. But I find this interesting and appreciate the information. It definitely makes me want to try one of these.
Great comparison. Loved how thorough and open you were about obtaining and reporting both subjective versus objective conclusions. Thank you for putting the time and effort into sharing this with us.
Wow! Great review and testing of the most popular hard wax oil comparison. Your performance was close to scientific evaluation as you can get. Thank you for this valuable information. I'm retired and disabled hobbyist and diy woodworker who has been previously influenced by popular UA-cam channel providers, who usually didn't explain their affiliation with product sponsors. I have learned not to take every influencers' recommendation on products and second to do your own research. Now that the "Old Dogs" have gotten matched up we should see nothing but improvements from these companies. I'm willing to try the "New Dogs" out on some of my products to see what feedback will be from my customers.
Great video by with all key issues well covered! Hold onto those samples and let them cure for at least a couple months, then consider testing them again. I’ve been using Rubio for maybe 15 years now and I’ve found that it protects better with some age. I think it soaks in deeper over time, as stripping 8 year old Rubio finish recently was nearly impossible. I can leave a glass of ice water on a my tables overnight with zero lasting effects. It’s also helpful to water pop and sand only to 150 (180 if you don’t use the paper too long). I retest samples constantly and I don’t see lasting effects from puddles of water left for 12 hours, even on week old samples (I’ve never tested on cherry, just white oak, walnut and ash).
Great set up, lots of questions answered and seemingly very un biased opinion leaving it to the results. For me, i think Rustic would be the one I'd have to try out. As a DIY guy looking to expand in the community, this would be an inexpensive yet quality product to jump on with. Thanks again for all your hard work and dedication to helping others succeed with more solid information.
I really appreciate when you do these types of videos because over the years I have come to the conclusion that you put an honest effort into being subjective and I don’t worry that your results have been influenced by the desire to obtain or retain a sponsor. After seeing this video, I will most likely try the Rustic Lumber Finish when I finish my current can of Rubio.
Wow that was just the best analysis of these finishes probably ever put on UA-cam. Very thorough, fair and honest. I’ll go back to this more than once in the future. I have to say that the Rubio hype was always sort of suspect to me.
Excellent, excellent video. Lots of work there, and it is most appreciated. Never heard of Natura, but I am definitely going to try it. Used Rubio in the past and was happy with it, but not happy with the short shelf life for the price. So may choices, so little time.
This was a well thought out and thorough examination. From a small Shop near Detroit Michigan, I appreciate you doing this test. I have used Rubio a handful of times but haven’t used these other products. Lately I have been using Odie’s oil. Not because I am pushing it, but my customers have been selecting it when looking at samples. I would love to see your findings testing that product agains other finishes to see what you find.
Great video - as stated multiple times, you ALWAYS run a fair and thorough comparison. How about a rematch of the same test plus Nano coat? Does Nano react differently with different wax/oil/hardener? Thanks again!
Very interesting test. A good follow up test could be whether using the 2C finishes is worth the hassle considering the lack of protection they apply. Consider comparing 1C vs 2C finishes from the same brands. Also, cost per SF might be a more interesting metric since you got good results with Osmo after 1 coat. That would bring its cost down the the 2nd cheapest.
We used the Rubio Monocoat and the price was staggering. We were finishing a new wood top for a kitchen island. The results were beautiful. We also bought the cleaner and the maintaince oil and ended up paying more than the cost of the 2'X4" butcher block top. Thanks for this review it was helpful and hopeful. I loved the results of the Rubio, but I would gladly consider a different product in the future.
We are honored to be reviewed by Marc, a true craftsman who we all admire. Many thanks for putting so much effort for this fair and informative analyses. We believe all brands share the same goal, which is making easy to use, affordable, environmental friendly and sustainable high quality products for woodworking community. We will keep working hard to improve our products and supply the best solutions to woodworkers.
Is there an easy way to get your products from Europe without going through the hassle and costs of overseas imports?
@@vdisI wonder as well.
First, thank you so much for this comprehensive analysis of these products! Second, that is one of my all time favorite movies!
It’s my person opinion, that there isn’t a one size fits all product and anyone of these would be fine for certain jobs. DIY Wife used Rubio stains on a huge hutch build but can’t remember if she used their 2c hard wax. Now I have to go back and watch. Again, thanks for all the time you spent on this, it was truly very informative and I was schooled on hard wax finishes! 👍🏻
We are planning to expand our Amazon business to Europe soon. Thanks again for your interest.
@@NaturaOnecoat Some ETA would be nice 😉
Thank you very much for the honest and thorough approach to your testing! We're very excited we're we ranked in your testing. Thank you very much for the publicity of our products!
👍
We build furniture everyday and use several different finishes. The one thing that concerned me was the change in color after setting out overnight. Should I be concerned about that? Any idea what caused that change compared to the others?
We thank Marc very much for this info. I am a hobbyist and have never tried any of these. Mainly because I only knew of Rubio. The cost to me was a no go. So I will be trying rustic on my first time out.
@@woodwhispererrandom question, but is your father a barber in NJ?
And this is why you are my favorite woodworking channel! No BS no trying to sell us anything. Just good honest information! Keep up the great work!
To say a company "might be in trouble" after performing a biased (he prefers more sheen) and subjective comparison is laughably all speculation and click bait.
Me personally, as a hobbyist/artist/small business - the one barrier to using Rubio before was the price. Knowing there are cheaper products with similar results, gives me hope.
Rubio does go a long way a 100ml bottle top bottom 4x8 if anything its for hobbyists should love it because it's ease of use. Price comparative when you factor in time/coats/durability factors. only 150 grit needed.
I agree!
I recently used Rubio for the first time to finish a chessboard. The price was the reason I hadn't tried it sooner. But the saying "a little goes a long way" couldn't be more true when talking about Rubio. I was amazed at how little it took to finish the chessboard and how easy it is to apply. That said, I will be trying these other products in the future.
I saw a video by ENCurtis recently that was discussing differences between UA-cam/influencer woodworking channels and professional woodworking practices, and that was one of the things he mentioned.
Rubio is one of the most popular finishes on UA-cam, but he said that Osmo was much more common in the professional shops he had worked in
A little goes a long way with Natura also. I recently decided to give it a try, and used 60g of finish and 20g of hardener to put two coats on a recipe box I was making. I had enough left over to give a small coffee table 2 coats as well.
Drop the Mic Marc! This is absolutely the reason why I support this channel. TWW brings more knowledge than most woodworking channels and he has the years of experience to back it up! Fantastic video and better information. The spinning cans turned out perfect thanks to Jason!
Great comparison Marc 👏Shame about the inconclusive results on the spot repair test. Would have been the clear winner for a clumsy donut like myself
The nice thing about Osmo is that they have several different options for hard wax oil (matte, satin, semi-matte, transparent, different hues). And they offer cheap samples, so I just ordered 6 of them and tested them on some birch plywood. Really affordable and nice way to pick out the specific oil that fits best with the wood species you're working on.
Agreed, the variety at Osmo is important to some.
Bravo to General Finishes for putting the hardener in a container that is actually easy to use and close. I inevitably get that pull-out spout thing completely covered and stuck inside the little can.
So true!
Waterlox is my drink of choice. It's a tung oil varnish, not synthetic. Polyurethane is synthetic, that's what poly means.
Waterlox is my drink of choice. It's a tung oil varnish, not a polyurethane. Polyurethane is synthetic, which is what poly means.
@@mikeamboy7292 Recently used Waterlox for the first time and I totally agree, was amazed with the results and ease of application
@@warrenwerksHow easy is it to repair waterlox?
The quality of your videos has gone up dramatically in the past year or two. Not having to worry about sponsors has significantly improved your channel IMO. Thanks for the excellent test! I've been finishing all my furniture with Rubio for several years now. Looks like it's time to give Natura a try!
I see it has been 6 months since this comment so I doubt you will see this. Did you try Natura? How did you like it compared to Rubio?
WOW ... that was a lot of work Marc ... thanks for all the effort and measurable results
Thank you for making this video. I've been using Rubio for a few years and whilst it's a good finish, there is absolutely no reason for it to be as expensive as it is. In Australia we're paying about USD$270 for the 1.3L tin where as in the US it seems to be ~$180.
I have been watching you forever and you never disappoint . Your evaluations are always clear, concise and researched. Thank you for what you do!!
Rubio has left the chat.
Thank you for your honest opinion about these finishes. Best regards from Croatia ❤
I'm glad you mentioned personal preference regarding sheen. I rely on gloss for durability. But from an aesthetics point of view, less sheen lets us see more color and grain which looks better than white light glaring back at me.
Marc is the Dean of the Woodworkers. No one else does all that extensive research or as well as you do. Bravo!!
I see Rubio on UA-cam but have never purchased due to price. I like knowing there are less expensive options as a hobbyist. Great and fair comparison.
Awesome video! I’m working on a guitar amp box. Looking for a durable finish to finish it with. Thanks for the help.
As a hobbyist who wants to move into having my own business one day, this was amazingly helpful. Thanks for the time and effort that you put into this. Well done!
It is easier to make it if you focus on built in furniture such as kitchens, closets, book cases and so on. It is much harder to compete in the stand alone furniture field due to the sheer volume of cheap mass produced furniture.
Really really really awesome comparison. I will be ordering some of these to try. Thank you for introducing me to some of these.
Thanks, cost is always a problem. It is a problem because I tend to buy a bunch of products and test them. Since you did it I could save some $. But protection is important for me, so I need to find a way to make poly look awesome.
Congrats on creating a very clear and thorough video on hard wax oil options! One apparently unique feature of Rubio (at least among the example included in this test) is the wide range of color options available - I am partial to Midnight Indigo and Velvet Green... If you (or anyone who happens to see this reply) is aware of a method for adding color to hard wax oils I would love to learn about it.
I am glad to hear that you have found this book to be very informative and helpful for your woodworking project ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO It sounds like you are well prepared and confident to build furniture for your house. I commend you and your friend for your enthusiasm and willingness to learn new things from this book. I hope you enjoy your woodworking journey and create some beautiful pieces.
How did a spam post get so many up-votes?
I bought a small can of Rubio and it was insanely expensive ($130/350ml), so while I had some I came up with a recipe of my own and tested it with the Rubio hardener. It worked the same. I can't tell the difference, so it works for me. I'm trying to work out where to buy the hardener by itself at reasonable cost and I'll be set. Here's the recipe:
On an electric hot-plate outdoors, double boil 1/2 cup pure tung oil, 1/2 cup boiled linseed oil, 15g carnauba wax, 1.5g white (capping) beeswax until the waxes have melted and mixed in. Take off the stove to cool and while it's still warm, not hot, add 1/2 cup of citrus terpene and stir in. Cool to room temperature and put a lid on. Apply just like Rubio - sparingly, not flood coat. If you don't have a hardener it could take anywhere up to 30 days to fully cure.
I have a Scandinavian oil (similar oils but no wax instead it's marine spar varnish) in the same kind of container (Ball mason jars) and it starts to go hard in the jar after a while but my hard wax oil recipe is still all liquid and mixed, hasn't separated.
awesome - thank you!
Marc,
I took a while responding to this video because I needed the time to try your recommendations on the two "winning" hard wax oil products in your excellent test.
Having used Rubio in the past, I can tell you that both of these competitors are virtually identical in their final presentation, just as you said.
However, Rustic Lumber provided nearly 3x the quantity of product for the same price as the other "winner."
For me, that makes it the clear choice going forward as the final results are superb and definitely a Rubio competitor, finish-wise.
As always your videos are superb and informative as can be.
I have now watched this review twice. Once when it first came out and again today when I wanted to review it again. Great work as usual Marc. You are highly credible and do not loan your reputation to others. I am about to order my first of a two component finish and this was very helpful. Thank you for all that you do! I truly appreciate your work. All the Best!
Job well done . Thank you. As a hobbyist my biggest concern was how long would it last if I didn’t use it all on one project.
29:26
Extremely, EXTREMELY well done video. You’ve put a lot of thought into this video…results, benefits, possible perceived bias, sustainability and ecological considerations. It made me question, but more importantly it encouraged me to think and to become more open minded.
Thank you for your time, energy, honesty, and professionalism.
This has been incredibly thorough, fair and helpful, thank you! I've used Rubio a number of times on furniture for my home, but the cost just hurts. I can't wait to give Natura a try for my current project!
I've been pretty much only using traditional oils for a while now and have been planning to switch to one of these hardwax oils, but with the price of Rubio and Osmo I just can't justify it yet. I'm very interested in the Natura Onecoat, so far I can't find it in Canada but it seem like one I would love to try out.
What I'm most interested in testing is how these hardwax oils compare to traditional finishes like Tried & True oils, because at those very different price points I know I can do about 4-6 coats of the traditional oil for the same price as one coat of the hardwax oils and since both styles of finishes only really add protection against liquids it would be an interesting comparison.
Curious about that too, I love using the T&T "danish oil" (polymerized linseed oil)
Well worth the watch. Informative on many camps. Much appreciate the non biased and extensively thorough testing.
I just used Rubio for the first time a few weeks ago. I was happy with it. It goes a long way, easy to apply, looks great, and has no nasty smells. But the price is a bit much. Had I seen this video before buying it, I would have tried Natura instead.
I'm astounded at the effort and thought that went into testing these. Thank you for the time you put in! I've only used Rubio before now, but will check out Osmo next time.
Am running almost out of Rubio, ordered the Natura at almost half the cost and will give it a go!
Thank you for this video. I am a DIY newbie and almost finished applying Rubio to a floor. Unfortunately I did not purchase enough product, ugh. I went with Rubio because they have lots of instructions on their website. In the future I plan to do a larger room and was considering Natura for economic reasons since I now have a better understanding of the process. Your video confirmed my own brand research.
Couldn’t come out at a better time, my Rubio just ran out. Going to try that natura now. I’ve had my eye on it for a while but hadn’t seen much about it. Thanks for a great vid
Rockler now sells Rubio, which will definitely help them. Also, they sell the oil & hardener separate now with twist-caps, which is the way it should be. I always do 1 coat of Rubio followed by 1 coat of the maintenance oil.
Just getting started. What is maintenence oil?
@@mitchallen55 Rubio makes a maintenance oil that goes on top of the regular coat. It provides slightly more durability and added sheen. If you need to touch up the table you can just use that instead of the 2-part Rubio.
Thank you for the informative comparison!
Great breakdown of all of these!
I just want to say after watching this, I can truly say that your information was just what I needed to make a decision on my next guitar finish. I will apply some hard wax polish to increase durability. Thanks so much!!
Fantastic testing, Marc! Thanks a bunch!!! 😃
I hope some of them get here to Brazil soon!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
I am a long time hobbyist in woodworking and have been using Waterlox and ArmRSeal for small tables etc. I have been interested to maybe change what I use and found your video informative and really thorough.
Thank You for such a great video.
Being a small shop owner, NaturaOnecoat will be something I will add to my top coat finishes. Every penny saved helps keep the shop open. Mahalo for the video info. Very informative channel🤙🏾🤙🏾
This is superb--hanks so much this presentation, Marc. ALSO--I strongly support you doing "theme" shows on Fridays--focusing on a particular tool, intervention, or some other aspect of working with wood. I've owned a Laguna bandsaw for 20 + years, and love it, but always think I can learn more (especially about getting brave enough to cut "free-handed", not using the fence). And even if I don't have the tool you were working on--like the jointer, for example, it is a pleasure to learn something new. Keep up the great work.
Great video Marc! Very interesting and wish I had seen it before I spent so much money on a can of Rubio just to try it out and compare to the Osmo I’ve been using!
Super interesting video. I started using Rubio monocoat when I first got into woodworking because that’s what all the UA-cam woodworkers recommended. I did notice that my wax would harden up after only using about half of the container. This is despite quickly sealing the container after each use. Very frustrating! I would essentially end up wasting half of a container because I wouldn’t use it up before it would harden over. I’ve decided to start using oil finishes like tung oil for deeper penetration into the wood, which should allow for longer protection. Thanks for doing this video!
be very careful who you watch on youtube as a new woodworker. try and watch people who actually make for a living rather than a weekend hobbyist. there is so much misinformation on this media by so called experts (retired furniture maker).
I too have been using Tung oil for all my current projects. As a home hobbyist, I can spend the extra time it takes to lay on all those extra coats. Especially when seeing the trick of applying them in very light coats to avoid future oil seepage.
@TaylerMade I completely agree. You have to be judicious about the advice you take from UA-cam woodworkers. The first woodworker I followed on UA-cam was blacktail studios, who does professional high-end epoxy tables. He almost exclusively uses Rubio monocoat, but then covers it with a ceramic-like nano coating. Overall, I really like Rubio, but it’s very expensive and I’m realizing it’s not as protective as something like tung oil.
Thank you so much for this excellent review! Rubio is so expensive and I'm excited to try something with less cost. I love wood working and am still learning!
I'm glad you call Isocyante a hardener rather than the disingenuous accelerator that Rubio call it.
I think Rubio would win as King of Colour. I know not often promoted on UA-cam, but they do have an amazing range of 'colors' that I'd urge everyone to take a look at rather than just using Pure on every project. Things like Black or Chocolate on walnut can look amazing.
I really appreciate the work you put in on these test my friend! i for one will buy the Natura onecoat
I recently refinished two walnut tables with Rubio - sanded very carefully through all the grits to 150. Applied two coats, buffing with a maroon pad before the second coat. Let both tables cure for 5 days (used with the hardener). The tables look great, but they lack any water resistance. A glass of cold water will leave a water stain in just a few seconds. What did I do wrong? Did I remove too much finish with the shop towel? Would a third coat help?
Thanks!
Thank you!
Finishing is my Achilles heel! This vid lead to the wiping video, then to the finishing playlist. Can you say rabbit hole?! Thanks for all you do on my journey to being a better wood worker! You (and Oreo) rock.
Sorry for the typos, can’t edit on my ipad for some reason.
Please post a link to the spreadsheet. Thanks and great video!
thanks for taking the time to do all these test. great information to help decide what you need and what is now available.
Yay!!!! Finally the number of Rubio videos on UA-cam will start diminishing! 👏👏👏
For people in The Netherlands, or wherever the big orange DIY Superstore lives, Hornbach, they do their own hard-wax oil (and a whole series of finishing products). And it's pretty great, and relatively cheap.
Helemaal eens!
Thanks so much for this great hardwax oil bake-off! Super helpful. Can you please clarify -- are the 2K finishes more durable than their non-2K versions? Or do they just cure quicker? Thanks!
Great video. I love that you talked about these 2C finishes setting up. I have wasted so much money on cans of Monocoat that set up because I didn’t use them fast enough. I pretty much need to buy a new can for every project unless I'm going through a can of finish every few days - so I tend to buy the smallest quantity that I can. That, plus the fact that 2C finishes are annoying and I always seem to mix too little or too much, have pushed me towards single coat wax/oil finishes with long shelf lives. My favorite so far is Tried & True Varnish Oil - it seems to last forever in the can, builds a really nice finish after a few coats, and is very easy to apply.
It would be great to see a video with a few of the popular 2C finishes and a few 1C finishes like Odie’s Oil, Tried & True, and Osmo PolyX. I’ve done some tests myself and found that Monocoat tends to protect better than 1C finishes but the difference wasn’t big enough for me to deal with the drawbacks.
PS: I haven’t used Osmo K2 but Osmo PolyX with 3 coats looks soooo much better than Monocoat - this is subjective of course like you mention, but man, it’s a night and day difference for me.
Yesss, I really wish that the osmo polyx and some of the Odie’s products had been included. I’ve used a few of them as well as the main osmo oil and Rubio, but I’d really love to see how they repair in an overall controlled experiment like this. It especially feels like the Odie’s oil products don’t have enough good tests and comparisons that you can find online - which is a shame cause it definitely has the longest shelf life in my experience, which is nice, and its my favorite finish to have to repair even though I feel like it isn’t as scuff resistant as the others. And I’d almost want a whole set of tests for just the few mainline Odie’s products, ‘cause I still feel like I’m just going off of vibes when I look at the main Odie’s oil vs the wood butter etc, (I feel like the wood butter might be the secret king tho).
would love to see a durability test with the ceramic protection on top
I’d just use poly at at that point. Easier and significantly cheaper.
Durability testing should be real world use for a decade. Ceramic coatings work well on highly smooth surfaces like metal. I think unless you have a lacquer smooth surface, why bother?
As a person who wants to go into research, the experiment set up is *chef's kiss*
I am an Osmo guy. This confirms my bias towards the best-looking. I very much appreciate you performing this test, and it will cause me to look at the alternatives.
My big brother, got sick...GOT BETTER, regain his ability to " screw around in the garage" and short of it all....learned to love birds like his little sister, that's me and started making bird feeders, bird houses etc, b4 you know it his daughter set up an Etsy acct and he tinkers with wood building said feeders/ bird houses to custom things...consoles, decor inside & outside etc etc. So my point is...this was EXTREMELY helpful to him & I was simply pleased to receive a lengthy ( I'm not a fan of the "Shorts") video from you again! So thx you for all the info my brother is now moling over for his benefit and thx you for posting. ID love to see more from you in your shop like we used too! Nonetheless I'm not going anywhere...I've been a fan 4 years.
Thanks for doing the work and sharing this information with us
Love the shirt!!! Jersey Boy here. Love you repping your Jersey family side!!!
Excellent review! I am a "small shop" hobby woodworker and I have been very happy with the ease of use and results that I achieve with Rubio. However, now that I have watched this video, the next finish that I will give a go is Nature One Coat, based upon the information you presented. Thank you for being objective in your review, stating up front that you didn't want any finish to fail. Peace
I just watched "3 - DIY Refinishing" from 10 years ago and what a difference 10 years make! You looked like a baby...also your tatoos are not limited to only your bicepts as far as I can see. Congradulations on your channel's longevity.
The King is Dead!
Thanks for putting in the grunt work to evaluate all of these new entries into the hardwax oil space. I've been particularly curious about the General Finishes offering, but it is good to see all of these examples put through their paces. After watching this I'll probably check out the Osmo... I've had good luck with the Polyx but have been missing the great sheen from a varnish, hopefully this two part option will hit both marks.
Great segment! Do you have a video review or recommendation for most durable birch plywood workbench top finish? I want something super durable and it's unclear if these 2C oil finishes are the answer. Thanks for any suggestions from the community. (Hi Nichole!)
Wow that was great! Extremely valuable information for the novice wood worker and diy’er! I’m super grateful for the time and energy you put into this video.
Great information. I really appreciate how comprehensive your testing was!
Excellent video, content was covered awesomely. Thank you for all you do. I have been a fan of yours for quite some time, and you never disappoint. Thanks again for the great video.
I have used Rubio once or twice But my go to is either General Finishes and or Mohawk. As a small shop I want the best result possible.
Thanks for this. Always good to see an "underdog" do well, and it is frustrating to see a "market leader" was just "marketed" better.
Totally brilliant video Marc. I'd really love to see you do a stain comparison of the compatible Hardwax oil finishes.
Great video Marc very help information for the hoppiest woodworker with so many great options and so much insight. Thanks for sharing 👏👏👏
Hi 👋, very interesting, when storing products, including paint, it might be worth store them upside down, making sure that the lid is on securely and tight, this is something I learnt many many years ago as I am now in the 70s. I hope there’s gonna be some help to somebody,
Ps this even works with things like jam that has a tendency to grow mould on top, I keep my jam in the fridge upside down and so long as it doesn’t get contaminated with the butter or anything like that. It will stay safe for a long time… Phil from the moulin France.
I recently had a "rookie" shop error...I left a one use container of Rubio unsealed. It may have been a month in between projects and when I went to finish my epoxy infilled live edge ash computer desk...I had only hardened finish. Ticked off at myself...I went on Amazon and for the first time saw @NaturaOnecoat listing for a good deal less than my standby Rubio. So, I bought it. My Ash project finished very similarly to my other Rubio projects...so, I was satisfied. I did not do side by side comparisons. You made my day giving the overall winner to Natura. I feel better now about my mistake...because I don't know if I would have ever switched. Many thanks!
I'm only a few minutes in to the video so far and 1). I'd not heard of most of these, even though I regularly visit my local Woodcraft and hard wood dealers. 2) I recently started buying Osmo (the non-hardener mix type) because I simply can NOT find Rubio anywhere locally, 3) checking Amazon I can many of these same day or next day, whereas I can't get Rubio in anything less than a week. Thank you for highlighting some of these even though I haven't gotten to the results yet. I've been frustrated with the lack of Rubio locally, and was worried (until I tried it) that the Osmo without the hardener wasn't going to cure or be workable/packable quickly enough. I was wrong. Thanks, Marc.
Thanks for this, Marc. As expected, you provided in-depth, thorough, exhaustive testing with "actionable" results. But using a CAT scanner is next level!
Awesome video! I love the in-depth and unbiased approach you take to get the best results in your tests! I think I speak for most when I say these videos are super helpful and I truly appreciate you doing the types of test I’d want to do, to find the best product given the time, recourses, finances etc!
ive only bought the smaller rubio 2c I really liked it. but, it is nice to see other comparable options.
This is next level content! Thanks for all of your contributions to the woodworking community.
Would love to see you test out Black Tail Studios N3 nano coat in conjunction with these hard wax oils
I just tried Rubio fir the first time this weekend. I found it hard to spread and didn't like the schene on it after i was done. Actually finished to a different finish after my first attempts. I really appreciated your comparisons of the different finishes. I will certainly keep this video in mind for future projects!
As a hobbyist/small business I've never tried Rubio. Mostly because of the price. But I find this interesting and appreciate the information. It definitely makes me want to try one of these.
I was apprehensive to try them but it only takes a few tablespoons to coat a coffee table
That was an amazing video. Informational, honest, great coverage. Huge thanks.
Great comparison. Loved how thorough and open you were about obtaining and reporting both subjective versus objective conclusions. Thank you for putting the time and effort into sharing this with us.
Wow! Great review and testing of the most popular hard wax oil comparison. Your performance was close to scientific evaluation as you can get. Thank you for this valuable information. I'm retired and disabled hobbyist and diy woodworker who has been previously influenced by popular UA-cam channel providers, who usually didn't explain their affiliation with product sponsors. I have learned not to take every influencers' recommendation on products and second to do your own research. Now that the "Old Dogs" have gotten matched up we should see nothing but improvements from these companies. I'm willing to try the "New Dogs" out on some of my products to see what feedback will be from my customers.
This is absolutely bloody brilliant, Mark, such a great bit of work
Great video by with all key issues well covered!
Hold onto those samples and let them cure for at least a couple months, then consider testing them again. I’ve been using Rubio for maybe 15 years now and I’ve found that it protects better with some age. I think it soaks in deeper over time, as stripping 8 year old Rubio finish recently was nearly impossible. I can leave a glass of ice water on a my tables overnight with zero lasting effects.
It’s also helpful to water pop and sand only to 150 (180 if you don’t use the paper too long). I retest samples constantly and I don’t see lasting effects from puddles of water left for 12 hours, even on week old samples (I’ve never tested on cherry, just white oak, walnut and ash).
Great set up, lots of questions answered and seemingly very un biased opinion leaving it to the results. For me, i think Rustic would be the one I'd have to try out. As a DIY guy looking to expand in the community, this would be an inexpensive yet quality product to jump on with. Thanks again for all your hard work and dedication to helping others succeed with more solid information.
Novice woodworker here. Wow talk about in-depth deep dive review. Appreciate your head down perfectionist review.
I really appreciate when you do these types of videos because over the years I have come to the conclusion that you put an honest effort into being subjective and I don’t worry that your results have been influenced by the desire to obtain or retain a sponsor. After seeing this video, I will most likely try the Rustic Lumber Finish when I finish my current can of Rubio.
I believe you meant to write "objective" rather than "subjective". 🙂
Wow that was just the best analysis of these finishes probably ever put on UA-cam. Very thorough, fair and honest. I’ll go back to this more than once in the future. I have to say that the Rubio hype was always sort of suspect to me.
Excellent, excellent video. Lots of work there, and it is most appreciated. Never heard of Natura, but I am definitely going to try it. Used Rubio in the past and was happy with it, but not happy with the short shelf life for the price. So may choices, so little time.
This was a well thought out and thorough examination. From a small
Shop near Detroit Michigan, I appreciate you doing this test. I have used Rubio a handful of times but haven’t used these other products. Lately I have been using Odie’s oil. Not because I am pushing it, but my customers have been selecting it when looking at samples. I would love to see your findings testing that product agains other finishes to see what you find.
Great video - as stated multiple times, you ALWAYS run a fair and thorough comparison. How about a rematch of the same test plus Nano coat? Does Nano react differently with different wax/oil/hardener?
Thanks again!
I like your reviews. Really feel objective without prejudice. You also take the time to explain the facts.
Mark excellent job on breaking down the details of each product. Thank you for the facts
Very interesting test. A good follow up test could be whether using the 2C finishes is worth the hassle considering the lack of protection they apply. Consider comparing 1C vs 2C finishes from the same brands. Also, cost per SF might be a more interesting metric since you got good results with Osmo after 1 coat. That would bring its cost down the the 2nd cheapest.
We used the Rubio Monocoat and the price was staggering. We were finishing a new wood top for a kitchen island. The results were beautiful. We also bought the cleaner and the maintaince oil and ended up paying more than the cost of the 2'X4" butcher block top. Thanks for this review it was helpful and hopeful. I loved the results of the Rubio, but I would gladly consider a different product in the future.