'Best' finish for oak doors.

[Johnboy]

I am looking for an easy to apply, hard-wearing finish for a number of new oak doors that have (at last!) been fitted in my cottage. I want to keep them looking as natural as possible but am finding they have a tendency to pick up fingermarks from dust/soot etc as the rest of the house is still very much work-in-progress. I have heard Osmo mentioned here before, anyone have any experience of their products? Ideally the end result will be low-sheen or even full-on matt.

 

[88v8]

Danish oil rubbed on witb a rag would do the job, after three coats it may start to develop a bit of a sheen but you can always cut that off with a green (plastic) pan scourer. I have also used matt varnish although it's not very purist.
If the doors have an external face, then teak oil.

Ivor

 

[tobydog]

Another one (non-purist) worth looking at is Polyvine Dead Flat Varnish. We've got some to go over our painted kitchen units but haven't actually applied it yet. Mrs. T said that she used it many years ago and was tough stuff with no sheen. Like anything, try it on an off-cut first if you have any.

 

[tobydog]

Here you go. Have a look at the extra-pale.

http://www.polyvine.com/

 

[MdB]

Our floors we have done with Osmo and our doors (made from the same floorboards) have had a coat of boiled linseed oil. Very happy with both finishes which have been on for a couple of years now. The boiled linseed was slightly darker than the Osmo. Note: the Osmo finish is shinny (ish) for the first couple of weeks until it dries fully. It then dulls down.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Johnboy,
I'm a big fan of Osmo finishes. There are several that would be suitable for your application. Their Woodwax Extra Thin applies very easily and soaks in leaving a matt finish with very little build up on the surface. Woodwax Regular has a higher build. Polyx Hardwaxoil is a floor finish available in a satin or matt finish. It is a high-build product which would be more suited to areas subject to high wear.
All the finishes are easy to apply (brush on, wipe off excess, done) and can be patched / refinished with minimal preparation.
I wouldn't apply anything else to internal clear finished woodwork.
However, I'd avoid the Polyx Rapid as I've found this tends to drag when applied to a large area.

 

[skier-hughes]

All of my doors, including kitchen cupboards/dresser etc have all been done with linseed oil, I love the smell, love how easy it is to do and mines now been on about 5 years and looks great.

 

[Johnboy]

All of my doors, including kitchen cupboards/dresser etc have all been done with linseed oil, I love the smell, love how easy it is to do and mines now been on about 5 years and looks great.

Is that plain or boiled linseed?

 

[skier-hughes]

Holkham's quality boiled linseed.

 

[Johnboy]

Hi
Thanks for all the excellent advice. At the moment it's a toss-up between Osmo extra thin wood wax and boiled linseed oil. I have used linseed oil before on gunstocks but never thought of it for the doors. The Osmo sounds good also. I will buy a small tin and experiment!

PS. MdB - That really is a beautiful door, well impressed!

 

[skier-hughes]

My doors, floors beams all have linseed, oh and the kitchen table!! Here's one of my doors
http://aizleforge.com/testimonials/