How long for BLO to dry before putting a clear coat over it?

[Mark Rios]

What the title says, please? Does it need to "cure" before clear coating it or just be dry?

I'll be wiping it on with a rag. I would like to put MinWax spray Poly over it.

The material is African Mahogany plywood edge banded with African Mahogany hardwood.


Thank you very much for your help and advice.

[Doug Shepard]

I like to wait a week if I can although I've done it after 3-4 days without any problem. It might be doable sooner, I just haven't tried it based on a few odd experiences that others have had. I've put Minwax wipe-on poly directly over BLO without any problems but normally I put a coat of dewaxed shellac over the BLO first.

[Matt Meiser]

I followed a similar finish schedule on Mahogany for a buffet I built a year ago for my brother. Like Doug recommended to you, I used shellac betwen the BLO and poly (wipe on) and I think I only waited 2 days between blo and shellac. I just saw the buffet last week and it still looks good, so it worked.

[Jim Becker]

'Depends on what you plan on putting over it. You can do a seal coat of shellac (I only use de-waxed for maximum finish compatibility) in just 2-3 days. BLO generally takes about 5-7 days to cure, but your nose is the key. If you can still smell it, it's still curing. If you are not using the shellac, I suggest you wait for more of a full cure before top-coating.

[Chris Padilla]

Why top-coat it?? It'll just make finish repair that much harder!

[Howard Acheson]

Why top-coat it?? It'll just make finish repair that much harder!

BLO oil offers no water, watervapor or abrasion resistance. In addition, it must be frequently re-applied to maintain any sort of appearence. I consider BLO a treatment for coloring, not a finish.