wood care ideas?

[str8strm]

Just became proud owners of a 1985 345 and want to give the interior wood some TLC. What is a good product to clean with and then what do you apply afterwards. I think I used to use a beeswax product what seems to work the best? thanks

[ALANSD]

I think if you clean the wood well first, and then apply your favorite sealer/treatment...it will work well. On mine there is less real wood...but I cleaned the drawers and wood areas with wood cleaner...and then I applied an oil based finish, I believe it was tung oil. It really looks good and brightened up the wood nicely.
Our smaller units have more of the plastic cabinetry and less real wood.
Good luck with yours!

[87MH]

Originally Posted by str8strm

..... What is a good product to clean with and then what do you apply afterwards. ...

I use "Formby's" exclusively....

http://www.formbys.com/products/

The '87 had quite a bit of "Desert Dust" on all of the surfaces.

Cleaned everything several times with the "Deep Cleaning" product - this also took off some of the loose varnish -

Then several layers of Tung Oil - the more you rub, the greater the luster - elbow grease is really worth the effort here -

For intermittant cleaning and dusting Lemon Oil is used.

The wood AS used really takes on a deep patina if properly cared for -

[ALANSD]

Dennis you would have to show us that gorgeous interior. I am quite envious.

[str8strm]

any idea on retail outlets or internet sources?

[str8strm]

Dennis I spoke with formsby and they said the Tung oil comes in different shine did you use High gloss?

[87MH]

Originally Posted by str8strm

Dennis.....did you use High gloss?

No - the low gloss -

It's a matter of taste - I prefer the "Low Sheen" as opposed to the "Acrylic" look.

The real secret to using Tung Oil is to put it on a little bit at a time - and rub it in....then rub some more....

I did my oak dining room table (used twice a day, every day) with tung oil about 20 years ago - after 30 coats I stopped counting -

No "water rings" ever appear on the table - when a the overall surface becomes scratched I just sand out the scratches and rub in a couple coats of Tung Oil - the Patina is deep in the wood, and I never have a visible "repair" spot.

It's not the quickest or easiest to apply (initially), but I would do mine in exactly the same manner as before should I ever have to start over again.

Most Home Depot stores carry the product in the paint department - at least in the Houston/New Orleans areas.

[Janets Husband]

Originally Posted by 87MH

No - the low gloss -

It's a matter of taste - I prefer the "Low Sheen" as opposed to the "Acrylic" look.
The real secret to using Tung Oil is to put it on a little bit at a time - and rub it in....then rub some more....

I have used Tung Oil on some past wood projects but not on my trailer.
Very good idea.
I was wondering if you have a favorite method of rubbing it in.
I found that I like to put it on with a rag and for the first couple of coats use my fingers to rub it in until it's almost dry, finishing with a dry Tee Shirt in the end.
I always did finish it though with a few coats of carnuba paste wax.

Did you use something like that or just use the lemon oil?

Do you find that it gets dark on you?

Interesting side bar; My Grandmother lived in a 50's vintage trailer for almost 30 years and I can remember twice every year she would spend a day with Murphy's Oil Soap and then Lemon Oil. Us grandkids learned to stay away at those times or we would be put to work.
That trailer was shaped like an Airstream but I don't remember the brand though. Curved maple wood on the walls and up and over the roof.
Absolutly beautiful with the care she gave it.

[Tarheel]

I have used a product by Pledge called Orange Oil. It goes on oily but dries to a hard finish. It is easy to use and gives a good long lasting finish.

[Rog0525]

Most hardwares carry tung oil. It is quite inexpensive and easy to apply.
I "tunged" all the wood in a '60 Overlander and was very pleased with the result.
I used a foam brush to apply it and wiped it with a clean terry cloth.
It refreshes the original finish and still allows the wood to "breathe".

[87MH]

Originally Posted by Janet's Husband

I have used Tung Oil on some past wood projects but not on my trailer....I was wondering if you have a favorite method of rubbing it in....I found that I like to put it on with a rag and for the first couple of coats use my fingers to rub it in until it's almost dry, finishing with a dry Tee Shirt in the end....I always did finish it though with a few coats of carnuba paste wax....Did you use something like that or just use the lemon oil?...Do you find that it gets dark on you?

Gary:

I follow pretty much the same method - using a small patch of rag as an applicator, and rubbing it in with fingers first and then using my plam to rub it in to the point that I am actually generating some heat on the working surface....if it is the initial applications I clean the surface with some very fine steel wool and then dry wipe with a petroleum based cleaner (paint solvent)....the last stages get the Tee-Shirt rub to insure that an excess of Tung Oil is not left on the surface - no free liquid. Have never tried the Carnuba wax - just the lemon oil after dusting.

A Tung Oil finish WILL leave the wood a shade or two darker than the natural wood - but I try to finish all Oak with a "Honey" or "Golden" color with just a hint of red in the grain.

I constructed an "entertainment center" for the 345 using bits and pieces of oak cabinets and doors from several sources - I ended up doing a deep sanding (took off ALL of the finish) and matched the finish of the cabinet to the rest of the Oak in the 345 - I mixed just a bit of "golden oak" stain and "red oak" stain with a small amount of tung oil for the first couple of applications of the finish - for successive applications I used the Tung Oil straight up - I was able to very closely match the oak in the existing cabinets of the 345.

[ALANSD]

now if i could find some used oak airstream cabinets to replace my plastic ones....