A lot of people are now stripping down old furniture to give it a new lease of life and I've done a fair bit of this myself - experimenting with various finish options.

I normally use a waxed finish but wax does not really penetrate the surface to any meaningful extent; a friend recommended this product, which is a blend of natural oils and resins, and showed me a coffee table he had done himself. Suitably impressed, I bought some the next time I was in my local Homebase and have since tried it out on a table of my own.

The product comes in a 500ml metal container with a safety cap and can be obtained in a number of different shades. It is for indoor use only and must be used in a well-ventilated area. At first, the detailed instructions on the back of the tine look a little daunting and the natural inclination is to take short cuts. However, I would urge all users to ensure they have the right materials and to follow the instructions to the letter and you will be rewarded with a finish that will last for ages and look really good.

If I were to try to describe what this product does for the wood, it's a bit like a freshly scrubbed face. Once it is clean, it tends to dry up and many people have seen the benefit of daily moisturising. This oil is really moisturiser for the wood. Especially after sanding, wood can look really nice and it is tempting to leave the finish as is. However, leaving it unprotected will leave it open to water stains and it will gradually lose its initial appeal.

By applying this product in accordance with the instructions, applying several layers, you will add a deep rich lustre to your surface and provided you apply the layers as directed, it will build up into a waterproof protective finish.

It does seem a bit odd at first when you are asked to brush it on, and then wipe it off, but the secret to success in using this is using the right amount of product - don't be too stingy and don't splosh too much around - and wipe off any excess, allowing time between each coat.

If you are embarking on a project to oil your wood, I would set aside a week to complete the task. By rushing the job and taking shortcuts, you can only be disappointed with the outcome.

It's quite expensive stuff, but as with many things in life you get what you pay for.