There are different types of woods you can choose from that vary in durability and look.
This is why it’s smart to know the best finish for ash wood before starting a project such as a tabletop or stool.
Most of these options are available in different sheens. By reading the product descriptions, you should be able to find one with a sheen that matches your needs.
Whether it’s satin, gloss, semi-gloss, or matte.
Below is a list of 7 finishes we recommend for ash wood and why they’re such great choices:
1). Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane
When you’re looking for a clear, protective finish that enhances the natural beauty of the wood as well as is extremely durable, this one from Minwax is an excellent choice.
This award-winning urethane will enhance the color and grain patterns just as much as it protects against water, stains, alcohol, and other common household risks.
It’s also easy to apply thanks to its self-leveling formula that will allow you to apply one even coat without any streaks.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it offers both protection and beauty with no dulling of the grain pattern.
Plus, since this product has won awards in both the marine and exterior wood categories, you can be sure it works just as well on interior projects.
2). Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish
If you’re looking for something that goes on quickly and dries just as fast then this polyurethane from Minwax is an excellent choice.
It’s completely water-based so you don’t have to worry about any irritating or harmful VOCs and it can be applied in just one hour.
After 3 hours of drying time, the water-based formula is completely cured and will offer protection against household spills as well as stains from red wine, permanent markers, and coffee.
It’s also flexible which allows it to handle seasonal changes in humidity with ease.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it both enhances the beauty of the grain pattern while offering protection against spills and other household damage.
3). Deft Clear Wood Finish
Deft is another popular brand that offers excellent protective finishes that enhance the natural look of the wood.
This particular finish, in both satin and gloss, is another one you should consider if you want something that dries quickly.
This water-based formula is completely free of VOCs so it’s safe for indoor use in kitchens or dining rooms.
Since it’s also extremely flexible, this finish will conform to the unique needs of any room where it’s applied.
Since it dries to the touch in 2 hours and can be recoated after 6, you’ll also get excellent protection against household spills.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it goes on quickly while offering surface protection with no need for sanding or preparation. Plus, it only requires one coat so you won’t have to worry about time-consuming touch-ups.
4). Wipe-On Poly Finish
This is another water-based polyurethane that’s easy to apply and quick-drying, especially if it’s applied using a rag as the company recommends.
After only 2 hours you’ll be able to re-coat without any loss of adhesion and within 24 hours you’ll have a surface that’s completely cured.
Since this finish has no added formaldehyde, it’s safe to use indoors in areas like kitchens or dining rooms.
It comes in satin, gloss, and semi-gloss so you can choose the level of sheen that best matches your needs. The durability makes it an excellent choice for low-traffic areas like bedroom furniture.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it offers great protection and a beautiful sheen without any need for sanding or priming.
5). Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane
If you’re looking for something that’s easy to apply and dries quickly, this water-based polyurethane is another excellent choice.
It also offers a semi-gloss sheen that’s easy to clean and resists scratching, scuffing, and fading.
Since this formula is fast drying you can apply it in just one hour and once dried there won’t be any need for sanding or re-coating for at least 7 days.
It also offers great protection against household stains from water, wine, juice, and other common household spills.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it goes on quickly and resists scratches while offering great resistance to household damage.
Plus, since it has a beautiful semi-gloss sheen, you’ll be pleased with the reflective quality of the wood.
6). Deft Clear Wood Finish (High Gloss)
If you like the satin sheen that’s offered by this finish but would prefer something with a high gloss, then check out this option from Deft.
It also offers excellent protection against household spills and stains while resisting scratches, fading, and scuffing.
Since this water-based polyurethane is completely free of VOCs and conforms to the California South Coast Air Quality Management District guidelines, it’s a great choice for indoor use in areas like kitchens or dining rooms.
After only 3 hours you’ll have a surface that’s completely cured and ready for another coat after 6 days.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it goes on quickly and dries fast while offering excellent protection against household damage.
7). Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish
Lastly, if you want to put a protective coating over your ash wood but don’t like the idea of urethanes, this polycrylic formula is another great choice since it resists scratches, fading, and household damage.
Since this polycrylic formula is completely free of VOCs and doesn’t require any sanding or priming, you’ll be able to apply it quickly and get back to your project in less than an hour.
It also offers excellent adhesion with only one coat needed for full coverage.
Since this is a water-based finish, it’s suitable for indoor use on items like kitchen cabinets or dining room furniture where you want to add protection without any unwanted shine. It’ll dry completely in 3 hours and be ready for another coat after 7 days.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it goes on smoothly and quickly and provides great protection against household damage.
Some Extra Finishes For Ash Wood
Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish
This finish is another satin-like option that’s easy to apply and creates a tough, long-lasting barrier against stains and other common household spills.
It resists scratches and scuffs too while offering excellent protection against fading from sun exposure.
Since this formula is completely free of VOCs you can apply it inside without worrying about any bad odors or fumes.
Plus, with proper ventilation, there’s no need for respirators either. It also offers great adhesion to wood and will form a hard finish that can withstand regular use after only 3 days.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it offers excellent protection and a beautiful satin sheen that resists scratches and fading.
Helmsman Spar Urethane
If you love the idea of adding a protective coating to your wood but prefer something with a bit more gloss, this spar urethane from Minwax is another great option.
This is because it offers a beautiful semi-gloss sheen that also resists scuffs and scratches.
Since this formula is water-based it’s an excellent choice for indoor projects since there’ll be no harmful fumes or odors to deal with.
Plus, since it dries fast you can apply multiple coats in just one day without having to fret over re-coating.
Since this urethane contains tung oil, it forms a protective finish that’s well suited for high-traffic areas like dining room tables or kitchen cabinets.
You’ll find that it resists damage from water, alcohol, and household cleaners too. It’ll fully cure in 24 hours and be ready for another coat after 3 days.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it forms a beautiful gloss with great protection against household damage.
Deft Semi-Gloss
For an ultra-glossy look on your ash wood furniture, this semi-gloss water-based polyurethane from Varathane is another excellent choice since it’s easy to apply and has an ultra-glossy finish that’s great for indoor projects.
Since this is water-based you can apply it inside without the need for any harmful fumes or odors.
It also dries fast so when coupled with proper ventilation, there’s no need to worry about respirators either. To top it all off, this polyurethane offers excellent adhesion to wood with only one coat needed for an even, uniform sheen.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it forms a super glossy protective coating that’s great for indoor projects.
Penofin Penetrating Oil Finish
If you prefer natural-looking finishes on your wood furniture, this penetrating oil from BioPro is an excellent choice since it’ll enhance the wood’s natural color and grain while forming a protective barrier.
Since this is untreated oil with no harmful VOCs or chemicals you can apply it inside without causing any damage to your household.
Plus, there’s no need for ventilation either so long as the lid is tightly closed between uses. This type of oil penetrates deep into the wood and forms a protective finish over time.
While this oil won’t provide any additional gloss to your ash furniture, it will help protect it from stains, water damage, and another household spill without creating any shine or sheen.
It’ll cure completely after 24 hours before you can start using or moving your furniture again.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it enhances the natural color and grain while protecting your furniture with an oil barrier.
General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint
If you prefer a rustic look on your wood projects, this milk paint from General Finishes is another excellent option since it’ll enhance the luster and add a gorgeous sheen to your ash furniture.
Since this paint contains linseed oil you’ll need to apply it indoors with proper ventilation.
However, the additional effort is well worth it since you can achieve a gorgeous milk paint sheen that’ll resist fading, water damage, and household spills for years to come.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it enhances luster while protecting your furniture with a beautiful milk paint sheen.
General Finishes Salad Bowl Finish
If you’re interested in adding a traditional salad bowl finish to your ash wood furniture, this product from General Finishes is an excellent option. It’ll provide a protective coating that’ll resist water or alcohol damage and household cleaners.
Since this salad bowl finish contains linseed oil, you’ll need to apply it indoors with proper ventilation.
Furthermore, since this product helps enhance the wood’s natural beauty while providing protection, there’s no need for any additional products to highlight the grain or luster of your furniture either.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it resists water & alcohol damage while enhancing the wood’s natural beauty with a protective coating.
Waterlox Marine Finish
If you’re looking for an exceptionally durable polyurethane that’ll protect your ash furniture from water, alcohol, and household cleaners, this product from Waterlox is one of the best options.
It forms an extremely durable, glossy barrier that resists scratches, dulling, and fading.
Since this is 100% solid polyurethane, there are no harmful chemicals or odors during application so it’s safe to use inside with proper ventilation.
All you need is a bit of patience since this product can take up to 72 hours to cure completely before you can put your furniture back together.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it forms an extremely durable protective barrier that resists moisture, alcohol, and household cleaners.
General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Polyurethane
If you’re looking for a product that provides a harder more traditional polyurethane gloss on your furniture, this offering from General Finishes is a great option.
It forms a very high gloss sheen which enhances the luster and highlights the natural grain of your furniture.
Since this is untreated oil with no harmful VOCs or chemicals you can apply it inside without causing any damage to your household.
Plus, there’s no need for ventilation either so long as the lid is tightly closed between uses. This type of oil penetrates deep into the wood and forms a protective barrier that resists water, alcohol & household cleaners.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it penetrates deep into the grain with a protective polyurethane coating that resists water, alcohol, and household cleaners.
Behandla Oil
This oil from Behandla is an excellent option since it adds a nice luster to your ash furniture while protecting against scratches and dulling without creating any additional gloss or sheen.
However, you’ll need to apply this product outside due to its turpentine properties which create strong odors and cause extra ventilation necessary during application.
You can also achieve a transparent matte sheen if you wish by adding more coats until the desired amount of saturation has been achieved.
This is the best finish for ashwood because it enhances luster while protecting against dulling and scratching without creating additional gloss or sheen.
Conclusion
There are many different opinions on what to put on or coat an Ash body with.
Some people say it doesn’t even need a finish depending on how light of a player you are and how well your hands maintain calluses (which can be pretty surprising).
