Hi guys, any carpentry sifus can give suggestions on what to use to protect and seal a wood veneer surface? I want to retain the natural colour as much a possible and not make it darker. I asked a few carpenters but all they use (they say lah) is shellac?

I tested one and even the lightest shellac they use makes it a tone darker.




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Wood veneer is not hardwood, hence the treatment could be different from normal wood. They are sheets which is laminated on top of other wood.

What do you want to protect it from - water? Termites? Scratches? This would decide what you can use to protect it ...e.g. linseed oil, water based protection, natural oils, wax, etc

All of the above? It's going to be used as door panels in my kitchen.

Where to buy wood oil to maintain rain tree wood slab?

I know what you need to achieve. But to achieve what you want, you need to understand the thing you trying to protect. Wood veneer is is merely a layer of thin wood. It is not solid wood. Veneers are already treated with water-resistant properties.

If you want to further protect it, I would recommend a thin coat (or maybe 2, max) of lacquer.

Forget shellac. These are coloring from the lac bug found on trees. You will never get a consistent color from 2 different bottles. Imagine your cabinet have different tone of color... yucks.

Oil, or namely mineral oil is not a permanent protection. It has to be reapplies every few months 3-4 months. You sayang the cabinet now coz it is new. You rajin go oil it now. I see you still rajin after 1 year or not laaa. Anyway, mineral oil is for use to protect such end-grain cutting board.

You can refer to this site for the different types of wood protection. Some of these brands can be purchase at Houz Depot, Kota Damansara or some decent hardware stores

https://www.ewarehouse.atkc.com.my/paint/wood-care

Linseed Oil is a bit challenging to find in Malaysia.

Wood itself is a very difficult thing to retain it as original form for the long time. When is dry, is getting lighter colour, when wet is become darker, so when you apply something, that must make the wood become darker, usually they will use lacquer, but that still will make wood become darker.

If you really like that original colour, maybe you can think of give up veneer and using High Pressure Laminate with that colour. Anyway, still not sure what you going to do for that veneer.

Hey lawrencesha, thanks for the response. Yeah, I understand the veneer is just a thin layer. When I get it straight from the supplier it doesn't look as if it has any treatment done to it though, that's why I wanted to apply another layer of protection. Will lacquer give it a matt finish?

Hey thanks bigred, will check these out! Yeah, I tried looking for linseed oil before also, can't find it...

This post has been edited by subaiku: Jun 19 2017, 11:43 AM

Hi Eleganz, thanks for thanks suggestion, but I specifically want to stay away from laminates, that's why I chose veneers.

you dont need to put a coat over wood veneers nor have I heard of people doing so because they usually have a protective coat already when supplied - but each to his own right? soo...

1. when ever you use any oil coating the colour will change - no getting around it.
2. Ace hardware store and ikea has some of these oils like boiled linseed/teak oil for sale.
3. Tung oil sold by some craft shop in Klang Valley area but super difficult to use - takes about 3 months to properly dry - also expensive. www.multifilla.com ; shop.craftiviti.com

If its veneer, why need to add an additional layer of protection? Should already have something applied from the factory, its not raw timber.

Maybe you can try to paint it with polyurethane?
Its a type of coating that has both shiny or matt look.
ACE hardware got sell Minwax brand poly but damn expensive. There are many local equivalent but I only know PYE brand, ATKC has many other brand but you need go so some testing tho.

not shellac...

but use clear varnish type...

something like this

A real timber Veneers as kitchen cabinet door panel? I suggest you don't use it if the panel is yet to fabricate. Cause it is way to easy to get scratches.

For rain tree wood, what kind of oil is good to prevent cracks?

Cracks are usually due to fluctation of heat and cold continuously or impact from other objects.

Don't think any oil will help to prevent cracks.

How can I prevent more cracks on the surface?

1. Got picture? How bad is bad?

2. Where is it located? Indoor / Outdoor?

3. Where is it being used? Dining table, coffee table, countertop, side table?

Hey thanks for the further recommendation guys, I think the polyutherane is what I'm looking for...


You might be right, just that to my layman's eyes, doesn't seem to have any coating. Thanks anyways.

Yup. A more natural matte finish. At certain angle it does reflect light and looks glossy, but not up close. try it on some other wood and take a look.

There is a trick to apply lacquer. After every coat, you need to "scrub" with the reverse side of a sand paper (cloth type). Basically a rough cloth.

It is a coffee table. Not directly under sun shine. Here is the pic

i plan to have a glossy finish for my wood piece
and seems polyurethane gives that effect
will it help make the wood even nicer to apply some oil before that ?

depends on what effect you going for.

i am going for the oiled wood effect, so i tone down on poly usage for this item

i like the glossy look, yet also the grains if look visible will be nice.
does it mean, after oiling put a layer of poly will have both effects ?
and if i want it even more oily + glossier, i put more layers of oil + poly ?

if u want glossy, i think just spray one bottle of samurai automotive clear coat then settled.

haha, after that use orbital to buff it
actually yr wood shine is good enough
what grit sandpaper do u use ?
just 1 layer poly ?

This post has been edited by brapa?: Nov 2 2018, 11:54 PM

not joking leh. if you want mirror gloss, have to use automotive polishing technique

for me sanding grit? the usual 80 -> 120 -> 240

wah, i did googling & there r people really polishing the wood & poly
its amazing the effect

i m ordering a darkish hardwood
thinking maybe wont go that far
since the poly will scratch as i use as a bench

i have some butchers block oil
thinking of polish the bench with this oil
is it possible ?

yea.. really hardcore when these people do polishing. thats how u get the piano gloss black paint effect on top of wood.

yea poly will scratch, thats why i prefer matte/satin finish, more easy to maintain and i thin it looks way better on wood (cos once gloss is scratched, it wont look so good)

butcher block oil..lol. it will give u the matte look not gloss. cos it will dry to the touch after 1 day..basically u got the wooden chopping block look and it aint glossy ma.

haiyo, i dont think i like the dry look
ok back to pu then

want to get u guys opinion
if the plank i got has fine cracks on it
do u think i should fill it up ?
or just pu over it ?
if fill up will be smooth, if leave as it is will look more natural ?

This post has been edited by brapa?: Nov 10 2018, 08:48 PM

Ace Hardware sells teak oil.