Sam Maloof Finishes (Rockler)

Sam Maloof left this life with more than a legacy in woodworking greatness … he left us with some finishes under his own name.  Sold exclusively (I believe) through Rockler, the Sam Maloof finishes are available in a Poly/Oil blend as well as a Oil/Wax blend.   It’s my understanding that these are his own formulas, similar to that used on his fine rocking chairs.

”One of the most important aspects of finishes, I believe, is that they invite me to touch, to caress, and to take pleasure in the wood surface.” Sam Maloof.

Available by the quart, the containers display some of Maloof’s iconic rocking chairs as eye candy.  Personally, I was in the process of building a Maloof-style rocker when I came across these finishes and decide to give them a try (afterall, following the master’s lead should be a good idea, right?)

These are oil-based finishes and thus are fairly straight-forward to apply (read: easy!).  The process involves soaking the wood with the oil blend, and then soon thereafter (minutes?), using a series of dry rags to get as much of it as you can back off the surface of the wood.  This short pentration time allows the wood to absorb some of the oil, and harden within the wood itself.  Take a break between coats of about a day to let the oil dry a bit, then repeat.  Depending on the project, and desired sheen, you’ll probably need several coats.  In my circumstance, I used four generous coats of the poly/oil, topped by two coats of the oil/wax.  Each application was dried with rags, and lightly buffed on the final pass (to reveal the sheen).  The end result is a stunning finish that is soft to the touch and draws attention.  Once the last coat is applied, however, the oil will still be drying.  Depending on the weather conditions and such, it may take several weeks for the oil to completely dry and the smell to go away (primarily a smell of tung oil).

These finishes aren’t just for rocking chairs, of course.  Anywhere else you would use a penetrating oil-based finish, these could be used … from headboards to side tables, chairs to changing tables.

In the end, I believe I made the right decision in following Maloof’s lead and using the finishes under his name.  The application was easy, the room for error was extremely low, and the final product is beautiful.  In the future, I think I’ll give these a try on something else …

Poly/Oil Finish
From the Rockler website: A custom blend of polyurethane varnish and natural oils developed by Sam Maloof to beautifully finish his finest pieces. Ideal for use on furniture, cabinets and millwork. Enlivens wood grain and adds warmth to it’s color. Gives your project the look of hand rubbed satin finish in half the time it takes using pumice and rottenstone. Consider using Sam Maloof’s Oil/Wax for the final coat to complete the look.

Oil/Wax Finish
From the Rockler website: A blend of oils and waxes used as a final coat over the Sam Maloof’s Poly/Oil finish to create a soft hand rubbed appearance while enlivening the wood character. Sam recommends using this topcoat on fine pieces that won’t be exposed to heat or moisture. Applied with a cloth.

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