Tin Maple · Oct 2026

Why I went back to a plain oil finish

For a year I chased hard, glossy finishes. They looked great on day one and terrible after a scratch. A plain oil finish is the opposite: it never looks perfect, but it is easy to repair. Wipe on, wait, wipe off, repeat.

Three thin coats on walnut, a week apart, and the cutting board finally looks like something I want to use rather than protect.