I’ve written a good number of articles here about the roots of polyurethane finishes, the reasons why people don’t simply adopt what’s better for them, the strength and weaknesses of various finishing paradigms, planned obsolescence and corporate profiteering schemes, lying social media influencers and their hidden sponsors, and similar subjects dealing with the darker side of the finish industry.  Today, I want to do something far more simple — bring my readers back to the root of why they should choose Odie’s Oil products over any other finishes, polishes, and waxes for any and every project. 

I am going to skip over the corporate malfeasance that has controlled and dominated the industry since its inception, I am putting that discussion aside entirely even though it is a big reason why you should align yourself with Odie’s aka, Odysseus Cornwall’s Outstanding Oils & Waxes.  And I must tell you, that word “Outstanding” is key.  Odie’s Oil products are truly unlike all others as they offer the pinnacle of safety; performance - durability, beautification, surface protection, ease of use, and efficiency of your time and money.  A little bit goes an insanely long way, and that also means more room in your workshop, supply shed or closet for things that matter instead of endless cans of chemical laded plastic coatings and color blends, and more money in your wallet to spend on other things. 

Currently, I live in a beautiful forest cabin, the exterior is all wood siding, beams, heavy roof trusses protruding under the roof soffits and an exposed beam pergola over a patio. The siding has an oil stain finish; the beams are all painted.  Had the beams been treated in the oil, the borer bees wouldn’t be turning them to Swiss cheese and some of the color paint wouldn’t be lifting from the weather nor fading in the sun.  On the inside of the cabin is a 2x4 fir ceiling with solid 4x6 beams strung across in the opposite direction at two-foot intervals.  The cabin is solid and built to last, the window frames are all wood, stained and coated with varnish or polyurethane finish, darker in color, but coated just the same, presenting a future challenge just like the yellowing ceiling and trusses above that also serve to support the second floor.  Unfortunately, I am well aware that this plastic coating is going to need to be refinished at some time in the future.  Ambient microbes, light, and time take their toll on such coating, from the ceiling to the trim, to the beam accents and crown molding to the floor molding and window frames; the task, the time, and the cost to refinish and breathe new life into these otherwise beautiful wood accents and structural features will be daunting.  Interestingly, in keeping with the plastic coating of all the wood in this relatively big cabin, the 12 foot live-edge rough grain desk that I sit at daily is coated in plastic; my arms and hands rest and rub against the isocyanate laden surface.  It’s plastic coating making the wood look and feel like it was made in an injection mold factory.  I appreciate these objects, certainly, but I certainly can do without the plastics and the time, effort, and expense that they foretell. 

I envision this building and its content, including the artificially coated wood floor, with Odie’s Oil & Mr. Cornwall’s Super-duper Oil and Mr. Cornwall’s Creative Colors instead of all this plastic.  From direct experience of wood treated with Odie’s Oil, I can tell you that not only would there be no future refinishing task and expense, but also the whole tactile experience would be entirely different.  Soft velvet like textures, real wood contact interacting with skin, non-yellowing ceilings and cross beams, Borer Bee free soffit-roof trusses, and an exterior color meant to last decades.   The floor would be water - food - dog accident - and chemical proof, far richer in grain, color and depth instead of dull and lifeless as it currently looks. 

So that's the practical experiential reason why you should choose Odie’s Oil products over any other finish option.  Durability and protection beyond anything ever seen before, depth and chatoyance, sheen levels exactly where you want them from matte to French polish level high sheens, colors that never fade and provide more strength and protection to wood than any other (literally a metal shield) - indoors or outdoors Odie’s finishes are built to last, to serve, to protect your surfaces, protect you, and your environment, plus they save you time and money now and in the future.  So next time that you need a finish, don’t ask - what’s the brand options out there, ask yourself this one simple question - what’s in it for me?  Why?  Because I can tell you that if you’re not choosing Odie’s brand finish, you’re simply choosing what’s in it for them - and that’s money at your expense. 

Blog post written by Michael Tinghitella, Director of Sales and Odie’s Copywriter