Shop-made SOAP FINISH

Five reasons to lather on this traditional Scandinavian polish

-  Sarah Marriage

Soap finish, a shop-made polish with a long history of use in Europe, is becoming increasingly popular among furniture makers here in the States. It's environmentally friendly and safe to use without PPE, and although it only provides moderate protection and durability, its simple formula, silky finished feel, and easy reparability tip the scale in its favor for many applications.

I first learned of using soap as a wood finish when I was studying fine woodworking at The College of the Redwoods. One of my fellow students hailed from Sweden, where the use of soap finish on floors and furniture is more common, and he used it to finish a dining table that was sure to see plenty of daily use. I've been enamored of this simple mixture ever since. It may seem counter-intuitive, but heavy traffic surfaces are where this soft finish really shines. Dirt and grime are easily cleaned up with the same soap mixture, renewing the finish, all in one step.

Perhaps the most compelling advantage of shop-made soap finish is its convenience and affordability. All you need to make this sudsy sealer is a bar of pure Castile soap, some boiling water, and a little bit of time

1 Natural look and feel

If you're looking for a finish that preserves the sim beauty of raw wood, soap finish is one of your best options. Once it dries, it causes little to no change in color tone or value. Although impurities in the soap or minerals in tap water could cause reactions with tannins in the wood, distilled water and high-quality soap will avoid this. And taking the final step to buff a soap finish will add a satin sheen to its appearance and provide a soft, silky feel to the surface.

2 Easy to maintain, and repair