Overheard a guy at the woodworking supply store say hand-rubbed oil finishes are outdated and I started a whole debate in my head

I was at Rockler in Denver last Saturday picking up some liberon and I heard this younger guy telling the clerk that polyurethane is the only modern way to go. He was saying hand-rubbed boiled linseed oil takes too long and gives a soft finish that dents easy. But I've been doing oil finishes on my farmhouse tables for the last 12 years and they hold up great, plus you can touch them up without stripping everything. What's your take on oil vs poly for dining tables that actually get used hard?

3 comments

3 Comments

sam_murphy391mo ago

That guy sounds like he watches way too many YouTube furniture flipping channels. Bet his idea of "modern" is slapping three coats of poly on a pallet wood coffee table with a foam brush. Hand-rubbed oil is the GOAT for dining tables that actually get used, it's literally the difference between refinishing a whole top vs just hitting a scratch with some fresh oil and a rag. Poly might look pretty for a year until some kid drags a plate across it and you're stuck sanding the whole thing down to bare wood.

grayc271mo ago

Ngl, you hit the nail on the head. Poly looks good but it's a pain to fix.

grace_bailey1mo ago

It's like how everyone wants an easy DIY fix but skips the prep that actually makes it last.