It’s one of the most common questions we get in our store…
“What should I use to finish my live edge creation?”
And 9 times out of 10, we give the exact same answer: Rubio Monocoat Oil+2C. Then we get asked about the application process (which I will go into detail) but first let me tell you about allllllll the benefits that Rubio offers!
This article is not endorsed or sponsored by Rubio Monocoat. We are not the manufacturers of this finish - this is just our experience and opinion of this product.
Matte sheen - I’m not sure about you, but we don’t like to see our reflection in a table surface, and the matte finish that Rubio gives is next level! Aside from this being the style that we prefer, it’s also a lot more practical. With matte sheens, you don’t see scratches near as easily as you do with high gloss finishes, and it hides so many more tiny imperfections. No matter what finish you use, your surface is going to get scratched over time and use - it’s just inevitable. Which brings me to my next point…
Reparability - if you get a big scratch in your surface, NBD! With Rubio, it’s easy to fix! Just hit that area with some sandpaper, and refinish that spot; no need to refinish your entire surface! If you get tiny hairline scratches, there’s a great line of maintenance products (like the Universal Maintenance Oil or the Renew) that will take those right out, rejuvenate your finish and bring your piece back to life!
Durability - its very resistant to heat, water and damages. No coaster, no problem! You don’t have to worry about leaving water rings or heat marks when you’re sitting at the table. The last thing that you want to worry about at your dinner parties is nagging your guests to use coasters!
Ease of use - when we say this finish is fool proof, we mean it. It’s about as easy as it gets, and extremely difficult to mess up! Since we sell to a lot of DIY’ers and less experienced wood workers, we need to have products in store that don’t need an abundance of experience to apply, and Rubio is just that.
All the color options - Rubio comes in over 40 different beautiful color options, making it a stain and finish all in one step. So if you’re wanting to change the color of your piece, no need for any harmful chemical stains or extra work for you - just pick your color and follow the same application process as below! Speaking of harmful chemicals, Rubio is made from all natural and non-toxic ingredients, making it environmentally friendly and 0% VOC content!
Now that I’ve sold you (maybe?!?) on using this finish for your piece, let’s get into HOW to use it!
Step 1: Sand your surface to around 150, 180 at the most. We don’t suggest going any higher than 180 - this will close the wood pores too much and not allow the finish to fully soak into the surface to seal and protect it.
Step 2: Prepare your surface - blow it off with your air hose and give it a good wipe with a soft cloth.
Optional: you can use the Rubio Monocoat Wood Cleaner on the surface before you apply the finish, but it’s definitely not necessary - the only time we use it is when we are doing really really large pieces (think 14 seater boardroom tables). Your air hose and cloth is more than sufficient.
Step 3: Mix your finish - Rubio is a 2 part finish (3A to 1B) and requires to be mixed before applying it. HOWEVER, the Part A can be used on it’s own, so if your ratios are slightly off, it won’t affect the finish! Score!! The only time we suggest using Part A on it’s own is if you’re finishing décor items or small, low traffic pieces (such as shelves). The Part B is what really hardens up and seals the surface, so you definitely want it mixed in for tables and flooring.
Step 4: Apply your finish to your piece on the top, bottom and sides. This can be done so many different ways, but here are our top three suggestions:
If you are finishing a piece that doesn’t have any epoxy, use a Very Fine abrasive pad to buff it into the surface in circular motions.
If you are finishing a piece that does have epoxy, use a micro fiber cloth (or other soft towel) to buff it into the surface in circular motions.
Use a trowel or spreader (like this one linked here) to spread it evenly onto your surface. Then go over it with a cloth or pad to buff it in. We will do this with large items so it goes on a little quicker.
Step 5: Allow it to sit and soak in for 15 minutes after it’s evenly applied to your surface.
Step 6: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP - once your 15 minute wait is up, wipe it off your surface really well using a microfibre cloth or other shop towel. You want to ensure that it is all wiped off the surface - for your last wipe, use a shop towel and if it is still pulling oil off of the surface, you need to keep wiping. If the unwiped finish hardens onto your piece, you will have a h$^& of a time getting it off and it will leave your piece very uneven.
Step 7: Let it sit over night after it is fully wiped off. Reapply the second coat the next day following the same process as above.
When doing the second coat, you will notice that it isn’t soaking in near as much as the first - that’s a good thing! The second coat is more so used to get any spots that the first may have missed, and really even out the sheen.
And that’s it! Now you have a beautifully finished surface that is also durable and ready to take your daily wear and tear!
Head to our Instagram page to watch our Rubio Monocoat story highlight - there you will find lots of videos and photos of the finish being mixed, applied, tips, tricks and so much more!
Thanks for reading! Until next time!
-Ali & Kyle