Oak Dining Table p.7

The table was first dyed with Liberon Tudor Oak spirit dye by means of a handful of wadding inside a soft rag with the dye poured into the wadding. Thus the colour was mopped onto the surface to create a dark base which was allowed to dry for 24 hours.

Then Danish oil mixed with Windsor and Newton ARTISTS QUALITY oil paint - about 4 inches of Burnt Umber plus half an inch of Lamp Black in 50 ml of oil. The mixture is stirred well before being wiped onto the wood with a soft rag.
The table with its first thin coat of stained danish oil. This recipe was from a 1930's woodwork book. Wiping oil stain was also sometimes used by the Shakers, though they favoured coloured milk paint, often in red, for their furniture. This coat of oil loaded with colour needs at least 24 if not 48 hours to dry before applying a second coat having half the colour, followed by 3 to 4 coats of pure danish oil to give a satin gloss. Thus the process takes at least 6 days possibly 10 in the winter.
It's finished! After 7 coats of danish oil it was brought into the house to completely harden off. After a couple of weeks it was waxed once a week with Liberon Black Bison brown wax until a good patina was laid down - at least half a dozen coats of wax. The table is in daily use with only place mats to protect it, and is wiped down with a damp cloth after use.