VG Douglas Fir Finish recommendations

6 years ago

Hi all I’m looking for some recommendations here.
We are using VG Douglas Fir as a finishing wood, interior doors, kitchen cabinets.

We really like the look of the wood naturally finished. But when I look on here I see lots of variations of “naturally” finished, all are gorgeous.

I’m planning on using a few pieces I have and finish them each using different products to see which one we go with.

Can you all recommend so laquers, shellac or varnish that I could use? Really want to protect the wood & bring out the beauty of it.

Thanks so much.

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Comments (3)

Seabornman
6 years ago
We have VG fir window and door trim. I used Watco Danish oil on everything before I installed. I then added two coats of satin polyurethane on the window sills only. You have to look hard to see the difference from the sill to the trim. I plan to put a second coat of Watco on before I'm finished and expect to require recoating every so often.
I tried other combinations, including various stains and sealers.
strategery
6 years ago
Love VG Douglas Fir! We used it for front door and some soffit. All exterior though.

Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Oil-Based Transparent Stain, Cedar Tone Natural.

Can't speak authoritatively on interior usage.

Fir is grainy, fibre-y, soft. Does not sand super smooth. Works well for some doors. Does not sand super smooth. I would be wary of using it for cabinetry.
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kudzu9
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I did a major remodel years ago and all the trim was CVG Fir. We wanted a finish that was protective and not shiny that would enhance the natural beauty of the fir. Our architect suggested pure tung oil, which we did, and it was beautiful. The nice thing is that you apply it with a rag, reapply a bit more where it really soaks in, and then rub it off after 10-20 minutes. Give it overnight to cure, and then repeat. Then, you're done. You have a beautiful, satin finish that looks hand-rubbed -- because it is -- and deepens the tone of the wood a bit so it glows. It's very easy to apply, and another advantage of using it is you don't have to worry about brush marks or getting an even application; it just soaks in nicely and you wipe off any excess. The nature of tung oil is not simply that it dries, like a conventional finish, but it undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to oxygen that catalyzes it and hardens the finish. Also, it does not need polyurethane or anything else to protect it. You can refresh it by rubbing on another coat if you ever think it needs it, but in the 20 more years we lived in the house, we never needed to. It's important to buy pure tung oil, rather than something that says "tung oil finish," which might have very little tung oil in it. If you can apply the finish to the wood before it is installed, also put a coat of tung oil on the back of the trim as this will seal the wood and minimize potential warping.