oils or varnish

[hammer n nails]

hi i am new here and new to woodworking so i hope you understand
i am making a house sign out of oak, the lettering has been done just need to know what to use to bring the color out of the wood should i use a gloss exteriour varnish or should i oil it if so what oil do i use and how many coats?
thank you for your help

 

[Lord Kitchener]

Use oil, the varnish will crack and peel eventually. The oiled finish will need redoing from time to time, though. A bit of weather protection, if it can be provided, would be a good idea in any case.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

+1 for Oil

 

[paultnl]

I would use Danish oil at least 3 coats

 

[studders]

Plain, not boiled, Linseed oil went on mine, does need redoing from time to time but it's just a case of slapping more on, no rubbing down etc like with Varnish.

 

[yetloh]

Put a finish on exterior oak and you will always be doing it, unless it is in a sheltered position. If it isn't, you would be better leaving it unfinished when it will go a nice silvery colour. Also, if you intend fixing it to something, don't use steel screws; they will leave black stains.

Jim

 

[hammer n nails]

thanks for your help guys

 

[andersonec]

Wood preserver then two coats of Osmo UV Protection Oil

 

[superunknown]

+1 for the Osmo UV oil. Great stuff!

 

[matthewwh]

You can use both if you let the oil dry fully and put a few layers of shellac in between. Using marine varnish rather than the standard exterior stuff will increase durability and if you let the brush drip for a moment rather than squeezing it you will avoid bubbles in the finish.

 

[hammer n nails]

yes thanks the bubbles are a pain i have been told to use a sponge brush for a better finish any one tried it?

 

[studders]

yes thanks the bubbles are a pain i have been told to use a sponge brush for a better finish any one tried it?

Just started to use them, so far I'm fairly impressed.

PS Got the bulk boxes off t'bay , good quality and way way cheaper than elsewhere.

 

[tomatwark]

+1 for sponge brushes.

I use them for Oil with great results.

I put 3 coats on with a sponge brush wipe off the excess and then a final light coat with a cloth and it works really well.

The only thing to watch for is not to put Osmo on to thickly or it takes and age to dry.

Tom

 

[twothumbs]

A great believer in a few coats of boiled linseed oil. Dry, recoat, dry, etc. Being an oil it is so easy to apply. You wonder why you bothered to dirty a cloth for the few minutes it takes. Watch the Oak colour come out. Will look good with a fine rub down before the first coat. Leaving it to weather dwon to a silver is also good as long as it weathers evenly across the face i.e. dont have it half expose say under a overhang. Good luck.