Wood stain and lacquer has been used for hundreds of years starting with stains made from plants or different minerals. At Loewen design studios we use Rubio MonoCoat oil versus a traditional stain and lacquer method.
What is Rubio Monocoat Oil?
Let's hear from the company themselves. “Rubio Monocoat Oil is a revolutionary, plant-based, hardwax oil wood finish. As the name implies, in just one simple application you get color and protection for wood. It is used for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, millwork and just about any wood project imaginable. Rubio Monocoat works by forming a molecular bond with the topmost fibers of the wood. This results in a durable finish with great wear, water ,and heat resistance, all while keeping the natural look and feel of the wood.”
Why Oil instead of Stain and Lacquer.
Stain and Lacquer are often carcinogenic and not good for the environment. They need a dust free environment to apply them after which they off gas for 24 hours. The finished product has a sheen to it (sort of like putting a raincoat on your table) which is hard and does a great job of protecting your table. However, water rings are definitely a risk with a lacquer table. Heat is a big no no and if you drop a knife or something else sharp, you can easily gouge that surface. Sanding and refinishing a stained / lacquer table can't be done in your home - it doesn't matter how handy you are. So from our perspective there are a lot of cons to stain and lacquer. There are some positives too. It's easy to apply and you can get some dark rich colors. Much less manual labor to apply.
We want to make solid walnut tables that will last a lifetime. Easy to maintain and hard to hurt. We seal and protect our tables with an all natural oil that bonds to the wood fibres and cures to a hardened wax with a matte finish. The finish is quite robust and so while we will always recommend using coasters and placemats as a regular habit, the table won't be damaged by not using them every time. Most of the scrapes and bruises will be easy to deal with because of the simplicity of the finishing oil.
Wood oil vs Rubio Oil
Wood oils not only enhance the look of the wood but will also improve the durability of the wood. Oils are nourishing and will prevent moisture damage as time goes on. Oils absorb deep into the board and contain special UV filters to delay sun damage.
One down side of wood oils is that they do not form as hard of a finish to fully protect a table in daily use. This is one of the main reasons that we use Rubio Mono oil. Originally designed for flooring it offers the best protection you can get with the beautiful quality of an oiled table.