Wood doors - oil or wax?

[StillRunningWithScissors]

We've had some 1930s one over three panel doors stripped of the paper/paint/hardboard that were covering up the original doors, and I'm about to sand them.

We'd prefer not to reprint them (the wood looks fine), and DH prefers them not to be left completely bare.

My thoughts are either beeswax or an oil to finish them (prefer not to varnish). Any recommendations from anyone in which would be better?

Thank you!

I've known old oak doors to be treated with boiled linseed oil.

Oil does tend to leave the surface greasy and any excess must be rubbed off with 20minutes or it will go sticky.

Have a look on the Liberion site, they should have guidance.

BTW I note that your doors are old solid ones. Modern veneered doors should not be oiled. I think it attacks the glue holding the veneer on.

If you want to colour your doors, use a spirit-based wood dye like Colron or Rustins before any oil, wax or varnish.

Colron have brought out "refined" dyes without solvents, which have received poor reviews.

Wax but it's a bit of a bastard to do, I'd do it round where people hold the door, like the handle and leave the rest bare. Oil changes the colour, wax doesn't.

Ours are all stripped oak, and I was originally going to wax them all over, but soon realised after doing one, that it's not needed -and hard work--, I simply did it where they would get dirty. The one I did all over is the same as the ones I didn't and it's been three years.

If it's a floor or something it's different, but doors, beams etc just protect them where there is high traffic and then leave bare.

I didn't find waxing them too hard to do and they look lovely.

I used Fiddes wax from www.wood-finishes-direct.com and some of the comments in the review section were very helpful as I didn't really know what I was doing!

The clear stuff was best as I didn't want to change the colour.

Wonderful. I think wax is the way to go, as I don't want the colour to change. PigletJohn thanks for the additional info. Always useful to have.

Try osmo oil which brushes on easily and protects really well - ive used it on a stripped window and also on iroko work surfaces - it is brilliant.

Ive heard very good things about osmo oil, will have a look. Thank you