Oil finish

A penetrating finish of drying oil, worked into bare wood instead of being built up on top of it.

An oil finish is applied by flooding the wood and wiping the excess away repeatedly, so the oil soaks in and cures within the surface fibres rather than forming a film. Linseed, tung and the blended Danish oils are the usual choices, sometimes with wax added. It is commonly described as leaving a body or neck that still feels and sounds like bare wood, with an open, resonant character and a satin, in-the-hand feel instead of a gloss. It offers very little protection next to lacquer, so it marks with water rings and dirty hands, and it needs re-oiling during the instrument's life, which many owners never do.

Example: A hand-rubbed oil neck feels warm and fast rather than sticky, which is why custom builders keep using it despite the upkeep.

typical use: Bodies and especially necks on hand-built instruments.

Oil finish

See also