I recently picked up a Harrisville Designs workshop loom and am getting it into condition.  There is no glaring issue with the finish but it feels dusty.  I'd like to sort of deep clean it and brighten it up withoug making a huge project of it.  I contacted HD and was told that it was finished with a mixture of 50% linseed oil and 50% mineral spirits.  I was also told that people have used "409" on their loom.  Isn't that a harsh cleanser with ammonia in it?  I'm looking for suggestions.  Thanks.

Comments

barleycorn

I have cleaned my looms in the past with Murphy's Oil Soap, but it's not a Harrisville.

Peg.Cherre (not verified)

I've strongly had people recommend Watco's Danish oil.  I was a bit concerned about using something called 'oil' on the parts of my loom that fiber/fabric would touch, but I've used it on my 3 looms very successfully.

pammersw

The danish finish oil is a mixture of oil and mineral spirits.  The oil soaks in, the mineral spirits evaporates, and the oil dries and hardens within a few hours. I've done oil finishes on a lot of projects,  most recently the teak on a new-to-us old sailboat, yesterday. The Watco finishes are excellent, I recommend them highly! They are also basically the same thing as your original finish. Wipe on, let soak in, then wipe off and buff. Ready to use the next day. Easy! Also soaks in and hardens in the wood, to strengthen it! :)

CelticCats

Glimakra suggests cleaning with a mixture of vinegar and water. The vinegar is acid and will remove the dirt and dust easily and it won't harm the finish. Let us know how it turns out if you use this method. Thanks

Diane Roeder (not verified)

So would the Danish Oil also clean the wood, or should I try the vinegar/ water solution to clean first?

jlread (not verified)

CLEAN first....you don't want to seal in the crud.....Sqeeky clean.....!

Danish oil works fine but use 0000 steel wool between coats

Diane Roeder (not verified)

Tried cleaning a harness with vinegar/water and I really like the way the wood is feeling!

Diane Roeder (not verified)

Tried cleaning a harness with vinegar/water and I really like the way the wood is feeling!

Diane Roeder (not verified)

Tried cleaning a harness with vinegar/water and I really like the way the wood is feeling!

Diane Roeder (not verified)

Tried cleaning a harness with vinegar/water and I really like the way the wood is feeling!

jlread (not verified)

Offically...Watco DO....Danish Oil is a unique blend of penetrating oil and varnish that hardens in the wood, not on the wood. Watco Danish Oil penetrates ...

Diane Roeder (not verified)

Thank you for the advice everyone.  I used the Watco Danish Oil and I'm very pleased with the results.  Looks new!

Diane

pammersw

Now I think I need to do the same thing to my new to me 1977 loom - I doubt the wood has been oiled at all in that time!

I love the Watco Danish Oil! First used it in about 1975. 

Queezle

My two looms sat many years getting dusty and dried out in this arid (Utah) climate.  You are inspiring me, and really, my looms are so good to me, I owe them some tlc.

pammersw

Queezle, my loom was made in Arizona and has been in New Mexico since 1977! I am sure the wood will appreciate a drink, even if the prior owner fed the wood from time to time.

Our climate is very much like yours, very dry. We got up to 25% humidity one day last week and it felt *so* uncomfortably muggy! ;) :) : D

(LOL @ myself because I have lived places where 85-95% humidity isn't unusual in the summer.)

Queezle

Yes, our climates are certainly similar, and we complain, too, when humidity approaches 30%.  And I used to live in humid places, the northeast (Rhode Island and Quebec), the sourth east (Georgia), and in the north west (Arcata, CA).  Both looms were purchased when I lived in Georgia, and so they have been through a lot of flux.  Once I can spread out a bit, I will do that thorough cleaning and oiling that they deserve.