Unlike other furniture finishes we’ve covered, penetrating resin is not a surface finish.
(For our other articles on the different types of furniture finishes, see Furniture Finishes – Part 1 and Furniture Finishes – Part 2.)
Penetrating resins actually soak into the wood and hardens the actual fibers. Penetrating resins are typically the best choice when a visible grain is desired.
The resulting wood looks natural, as though it weren’t finished, but the wood’s character is deeply accented.
These resins are desired for their durability and are able to handle the stresses of daily wear and tear. If the wood is visibly damaged during daily used, penetrating resin is simple to repair.
In it’s natural state, penetrating resins dry clear. They only slightly darken the wood. However, the resins are available in an assortment of stain colors.
Applying penetrating resin is a simple process and we’ll feature a follow-up article on how to apply penetrating resin in an installment of Weekend Warrior.