Choosing your Waterlox Finish
One question that we are asked frequently is “Which Waterlox product should I use for my woodworking project?”  All  Waterlox Tung Oil Finishes offer a durable, protective finish that enhances the natural character of wood. It is available in satin,  medium (Original Sealer/Finish),  and gloss sheens. Your choice of sheen is a matter of personal preference. The sheen does not affect the product's durability.

Unfortunately there really is no “universal sheen level” standard in the wood-coating industry.  Terms like “gloss”  “semi gloss” and “satin” are subjective at best. Our gloss may be glossier than another manufacturer’s.  Your idea of what semi-gloss is might be someone else’s gloss… add to the mix that the same finish may look different on various wood species… our “Original Satin” may look glossier on Brazilian cherry than it does on yellow pine! While we do describe the sheen level of our products by using a “degree of gloss” scale,  we encourage our customers to always do a test area… that’s why we sell “trial sizes” of our most popular finishes.

Tip: Regardless of the sheen desired, we strongly recommend applying a coat of two of our Original Sealer Finish to your floor first to seal the wood and act as a base coat for our satin or gloss products.

Original Satin Finish
25-degree sheen level offers a  “subdued” level of gloss.  There is a sheen but very little reflection. Newly-formulated for those who are looking for a matte look.
Note: Waterlox Original Satin Finish contains flattening agent which can settle to the bottom of the can. Stir contents vigorously before and during use. We do not recommend applying our satin product by wiping, as it could cause streaking.  Best results are achieved by brushing or spraying a generous coat.








Original Sealer Finish
55-degree sheen level provides a “medium” or “semi-gloss.”  We recommend this product as the first coat for ANY finishing job.  You can also apply additional coats to  give most wood surfaces a shiny but not “glaring” appearance. It must look pretty good, as it is by far our most popular wood finish.










Original Gloss Finish
85-degree sheen level gives you our shiniest wood finish. When you desire a very reflective “glass” or  “gym floor” appearance, this is the finish for you.