A Finish to Maintain the Natural Oak Color?

[onocoffee]

I'm building a little cart that I'm using reclaimed oak pallet wood that I've jointed, planed and sanded to 180, and I really like the natural look of the wood. Thinking that I should finish it and have coated some test pieces with Osmo Polyx, Tried and True Original, Howard's Cutting Board Oil, and since I had a can of it sitting around: Howard Restor-a-Finish Mahogany. All of them have darkened the oak a little to a bit.

So, I am wondering if there are any recommendations on a coating that will not change the color of the wood? Someone mentioned to me that Mohawk Rockhard Urethane Varnish might be a way to go? Thanks!

 

[jeffinsgf]

I haven't tried every finish on the market, but I've used a lot of them, and I can't think of anything that doesn't darken the wood to some extent. Of the stuff I use regularly, Osmo Polyx gloss or satin has the least color change.

 

[Cheese]

Coming from a chemistry standpoint, the only applied finishes that will not change the color of wood would have to be water based or alcohol based.

I've installed many maple strip floors and when I want to achieve a non-yellow finish, I always top coat it with a water based finish. And 95% of the time I use Bona Traffic. It's tough, dries quickly and absolutely does not yellow.

I know it's weird to use a floor finish for your application, but I'd give it a try and see how you like it.

There have been times when I patched in a floor and the color had to match the existing section. At that point I'd apply a single coat of traditional oil based top coat followed by 2 coats of Bona Traffic. The oil based finish would match the existing floor color while the Bona Traffic would provide better protection than the oil based topcoat was ever capable of.

This is a view of the top landing from which any dog would launch themselves to the lower level. These marks were made by a 90# Golden Retriever but you'll notice that none of the indentations break through the surface. This Bona Traffic is petty tough stuff.

 

[makpacman]

I had a house full of new doors made out of hard maple about a month back and we used Zar Crystal Clear water based polyurethane because the owner wanted them to look as close to natual as possible. The client ended up quite satisfied with the results..

From my experience with Zar, hard and dense woods don't darken in any noticeable manner. Some very absorbant softwoods such as pine or whitewood do darken just a tinge. By all means test first, but I'd bet with this product the oak will look natural, especially if you use a matte finish.

 

[smorgasbord]

I know it's weird to use a floor finish for your application, but I'd give it a try and see how you like it.

I started using Sutherland Welles' floor finish, called "Murdoch," in its matte form for things like kitchen cabinets and door thresholds and even some window sills that see alot of wear. Rest of my house is solid wood doors, windows and trim with pure tung oil for the inside. Of course, this is for a wood called Narra, which is brown yellow-red, so not suitable for the OP's light wood use, but just to support that the right floor finish can be used elsewhere without necessarily looking like a plastic coating.

 

[hdv]

I really like Osmo 3041 Hardwax for a natural look that changes the colour and sheen (luster?) the least.

 

[Packard]

I tried Googling “water-clear” clear coat, and got multiple results showing water-base, or water proof, but only one about water-clear.

But when I Googled: “water-clear, non-yellowing clear coat over white”, I hit the mother-lode.  I only scanned a couple, but the search appears to be on-target.

Here’s my search:
https://www.google.com/search?q="water-clear"+%C2%A0non-yellowing+over+white&client=firefox-b-1-m&sca_esv=d12e58ed6977e94a&ei=r4V6Z_64F9qGptQPyrqRyQg&ved=0ahUKEwi-zP3S1N6KAxVag4kEHUpdJIkQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=%22water-clear%22+%C2%A0non-yellowing+over+white&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiKCJ3YXRlci1jbGVhciIgwqBub24teWVsbG93aW5nIG92ZXIgd2hpdGUyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUjnugFQsw1YgbUBcAF4AJABAJgB4QKgAb8iqgEJMjUuMTIuMi4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAInoALMJMICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiGAxiKBcICCBAAGIAEGKIEwgIMEC4Y0QMYFhjHARgewgIIEAAYFhgKGB7CAg4QLhgWGMcBGAoYHhivAcICBRAAGIAEwgIEEAAYHsICCRAuGMkDGAoYHsICCxAAGIAEGJIDGIoFwgIJEAAYFhjJAxgewgIJEAAYkgMYFhgewgIFECEYnwXCAgUQIRirApgDAIgGAZAGCJIHBzExLjI2LjKgB-jXAg&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

 

[waho6o9]

Wax

 

[onocoffee]

Thank you, guys for the feedback. I will look into all those!