tried & true varnish

	Please call us at  877-432-6428 or visit one of our stores for more information and to place your order.
	Penetrating wood floor finish made of polymerized linseed oil and pine resin. Satin to semi-gloss sheen, formulated to match the finish on fine antique furniture. No solvents, heavy-metal dryers, VOCs or petroleum products. Gets harder and more durable with age. Use on any interior wood surface including floors.
	Prices: Varnish & Resin	pint $17.99	quart $24.99	gal $74.99

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• overview

  the story

  Tried & True finishes are based on pure linseed oil, without any of the petroleum-based solvents or heavy-metal driers that are typically added to products labeled as "boiled linseed." Joe Robson, an experienced cabinetmaker and finisher in upstate New York, crafted the Tried & True formulas to match the quality of finish of fine antique furniture. His finishes are made with techniques similar to those used by varnish makers in the mid-1800s.

  Linseed oil finishes penetrate into wood fibers, then react with oxygen in the air. They evolve into a plastic-type resin bonded to the wood. That tough film is the finish. What sets Tried & True apart is that the linseed oil has been polymerized, or partly started on that chemical transformation, through a proprietary heat treatment process. This makes finishing fast and easy. The oil dries to a hard, yet flexible, coating without the need for drying agents. Standard "boiled linseed oil," by contrast, contains toxic solvents and heavy-metal drying agents and could not cure properly without them.

  Tried & True finishes are food-safe in compliance with FDA 21(Section 175.300).

  performance

  Tried & True Varnish Oil produces a semi-gloss or satin finish depending on how much the surface is buffed. Polished, it produces a true hand-rubbed look. This finish is suitable for all types of wood items, including floors. (It is not as durable as our OS Hardwax Oil finish, however.)

  Varnish Oil, which has the consistency of warm honey, is produced according to a formula that comes from the oil used to make coachmaker's varnish around 1850. It is a blend of highly refined polymerized linseed oil and natural resin varnish. The resin, which accounts for 25 percent of the finish, is modified pine sap (a modified ester of rosin that is non-toxic and food-safe).

  Next: Health
• health

  at home

  All Tried & True Wood Finishes comply with the inner most circle of product safety established by the FDA.

  Beeswax and natural varnish resin are FDA approved as non-toxic and non-allergic

  Our products, and or any of their ingredients, are not regulated under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act or the EPA Resource and Recovery Act. Our oils are non-toxic and non-flammable.

  on the planet

  No solventsor petroleum distillates are present in Tried & True Wood Finishes. Therefore, there is nocompromise in environmental impact, worker health and safety, or indoor air quality.

  Next: Use
• use

  where can i use it?

  Varnish Oil is a fine furniture finish. It has a high resin content and will produce a beautiful semi-gloss sheen. Each coat will build up gloss and durability. This finish will take an excellent polish making it the ultimate hand rubbed finish.

  how much do i need?

  Coverage rate is 600 sf/gal.

  Two or three coats is usually enough on vertical surfaces. Table tops or similar applications should get a minimum of three coats. Varnish Oil builds gloss, depth, and durability with each coat.

  how do i install or apply it?

  Varnish Oil Finish can be applied to well-sanded bare wood or over a stain. Apply when both the wood and the finish are above 70°F.

  Warming the finish first to approximately 100°F to 120°F eases application and speeds drying. Warm in a can placed in a pan of water, never over direct flame.

  Use a cloth to apply a thorough but thin coat. On large, flat projects (such as floors), pour a puddle and spread the finish with a squeegee fitted with a rubber blade.

  Allow the finish to soak in for one hour.

  Wipe off briskly with a cotton cloth until dry. No finish should come off on a clean cloth.

  Allow to cure for 24 hours. Burnish with #0000 steel wool or a soft cloth. The more you rub, the better it will look.

  Additional coats, applied the same way and with the same curing times, deepen the shine and increase protection. Two coats are usually enough on vertical surfaces. Table tops should get three.

  For floors, we recommend applying a first coat of Danish Oil Finish and allowing that to dry. Then apply two or three coats of Varnish Oil, allowing each to dry as recommended above before the next coat is applied.

  how do i maintain it?

  All three of these finishes become harder and more durable as they age. Buff with a soft cotton cloth to maintain the shine.

  These finishes can be spot-repaired. Sand out scratches as needed, rub on new finish, allow to dry (follow timing recommended for the finish) and buff with #0000 steel wool to blend in the patch.

  Previous: Health

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