WatcoDanish Oil Red Mahogany 214380 - Quart

This mahogany color is more like unfinished mahogany (bare wood) than finished mahogany. Thus, it has a little bit of a pinkish reddish hue - not a hot pink, more like a reddish pink. I like that - I am using it on birdseye maple and it really shows the birdseye figure. So far, I have completed two coats. Based on my prior work with Watco, I will complete four coats. My project was sanded to 220 grit before Watco, and after the first coat I sanded with 320 grit. I will go to 400 grit next. I will say that this clogs stearated sand paper really quickly. I am going to wet sand it the next time to get a better finish. Note that this stuff will bleed out of wood pores no matter how well you wipe it down after application - you’ll see that when you inspect the wood up close. I think multiple coats with a day or more of drying time and light finish sanding between coats helps. Watco oil looks good and really lets you feel the wood more than film building finishes. I don’t believe that one coat is sufficient.

I tried other stains like minwax for my Sapele wood top, but the color was not working right. Did research and found WATCO red mahogany was good for Sapele, which I believe is a type of mahogany.Stain went on easy, remember to shake well as the color gets separated from the varnish in the oil. Wiped on with foam brush and wiped off with old tshirt rags. Took 2 coats to get deep finish I wanted and then it took over a week to dry (here in FL). Put out in sun a bit to cure, since we had some cooler/wet days here. Once in the sun even a week later it was 'sweating' the Danish oil. So this product does take a while to cure before use or putting any polyurethane on. Waited almost 2 weeks before putting poly on. Very happy with results and would recommend this particular color if looking for a deeper finish with a reddish (but not to much) tint.

The only other danish oil I have ever used is the natural from Watco. This one seems to be less oily. Used on a dinner table. Threw 3 coats of this stuff, then used this to wet sand with 400 grit. Finally 3 coats of spray on polyurethane. Photos are before and after the spray on poly. Happy with the result. Pleasant to look and touch. Final product does not smell.

I inherited my grandmother’s dining room table from my aunt. It had white burn marks from an iron and a patch missing the shellac. After using, the white spots were gone. The patch blended color-wise with the rest of the table making it almost unnoticeable. MUCH cheaper than having a professional restore.

Danish oil produces a very nice and durable finish. It requires time and patience to use as it will require multiple coats with sanding/steel wool in between coats. Scratches can be repaired simply by smoothing with steel wool and applying more of the product as needed. We are using it to create custom old fashioned looking molding in our home.