Just finished my 500th piece with only a hand-rubbed oil finish

I hit the number yesterday on a walnut dresser for a client in Boise. I started counting after my first year in the trade, back when everyone said you needed lacquer or poly for real protection. The dresser took about 18 hours over three days, with six coats of oil and a lot of sanding in between. It made me realize how much I've stuck to my guns on this old-school method when the whole industry pushes spray gear. Has anyone else stuck with one finish for that many jobs and felt like they proved a point?

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3 Comments

thompson.finley5mo ago

Hell yeah, that's a serious flex. You've basically become a walking case study for why that finish works.

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harper_owens5mo ago

Walking case study is right, they're gonna start charging me rent for living in their marketing materials. Next time I see the product manager I'm handing them an invoice for my modeling fees.

7

jessel352mo ago

Yeah @thompson.finley's right, I heard somewhere that finish is already getting spec'd on half the new builds in town. You're basically the poster child for it now.

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