Velvit Oil

(This comes out of a conversation and email thread between Mel Mickey, Kevin Seigworth and myself. Some of the sentences are written by Kevin S.)

A number of club members over the years have recommended a finishing oil called Velvit Oil. Velvet oil is a blend of a drying oil like linseed or tung oil, varnish and mineral spirits. It is in the family of similar products like Deft or Watco Danish oil and Minwax Antique oil. Velvit Oil was manufactured in Neenah Wisconsin and has become increasingly difficult to find. This has been a topic among club members for the last few years.

Recently I reached out to a supplier in Texas who still shows Velvit Oil products on his web site. He confirmed that the company that produced Velvit Oil has gone out of business. He still has some Velvit Oil products in stock but was quick to point out that he does NOT have any of the 200-Natural which “everyone is looking for.”

Alternatives

So what alternatives are there? I personally purchased and used one can of Velvit Oil – about 10 years ago so my memory is fuzzy. I typically use Watco Danish Oil, and my take on Velvit Oil is it has a higher oil content than the Watco DO, and probably a lower thinner content.

The supplier in Texas wrote the following: “I think that Osmo top oil-,matte or satin would work fine.  similar ingredients.”

The description of Cosmo Top Oil on Amazon is “FOOD-SAFE HARDWAX-OIL Osmo Top Oil High Solid is a Food-safe Hardwax-oil wood finish which is extremely tough and hardwearing. It is water repellent and dirt resistant as well as resistant to wine, beer, cola, coffee, tea, fruit juices, milk and water. These types of liquid spillages will tightly bead on the surface without leaving any marks, simply clean by wiping with a cloth.” On Amazon this retails for around $50 a pint.