We put oil, wax, shellac, lacquer, and poly through heat, water, alcohol, and abrasion tests to see which finish actually holds up.
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A six-month outdoor test of five common wood finishes, plus the prep steps that keep a finish from peeling in the first place.
We stress-test five popular wood finishes with hot mugs, water rings, and UV light to see which ones actually hold up—and which ones are a headache to repair.