Wood Finishes Chart

Oil and stains can provide the beauty of a hand-rubbed finish on woodworking projects, especially furniture and cabinetry items. Both are available in a wide range of shades and colors, with the “natural” and “fruit wood” types of finishes being the most popular.

There are plenty of good reasons to using oil and stain wood finishes ;  they're fairly easy to apply, require no special application tools, and they can provide several years of
protection.

Another major reason woodworkers use oils and stains, is because these finishes can reveal and enhance interesting and attractive wood grain patterns, allowing the true, natural beauty of the wood to shine through.

The two biggest advantages that paints have to offer are relative low-cost and wide variety of color choices. The newest wood paints on today's market are not only designed for optimal coverage, they also deliver brilliant, long-lasting protection in thousands of beautiful, fade-resistant colors.

Although there are three or four chief categories of interior and exterior wood paints, it's a good idea to get some professional help when selecting paints for specific woodworking projects. That's because there are a number of new paint formulations available today.   

Also, many paints purchased today will have a varying degree of overall quality.

As a whole, marine-grade finishes are super-tough, and when properly applied, offer excellent protection for all kinds of outdoor woodworking projects.

When it comes to exterior woodworking finishes, it's tough to beat a good marine-grade spar or comparable finish. 

These heavy-duty marine finishes are a favorite for protecting exterior woodworking projects such as birdhouses and patio fences, and can be used extensively for furniture around the pool, the garden, and around waterfront areas, like boathouses.

These are two broad groups of wood finishes ;  both clear coatings and polyurethane finishes can provide many years of rugged wood protection. In addition, these finishes can be used for virtually any woodworking application, like furniture, floors, cabinetry, or on any project where a long-lasting, transparent, highly-durable finish is desired.

While many of today's most-popular urethane products have been formulated for for easy application, it should be noted that some clear-coat finishes, like lacquers, can be tricky to use, and may require special tools. The extra effort is often worth the trouble.

Also notable ; some of the newest, high-tech polyurethane wood finishes on today's market can actually last for a decade or more, if applied correctly.