I've messed up the oiling of recently sanded wood

[Olete32]

So we had an oak counter top sanded down. I've done three coats of Osmo oil - all looking great until the third coat. I seemed to have rubbed the oil in against the grain in some areas and now it looks crap.

So I need to sand it back and reoil in places. Any tips? I feel like such an idiot.

Try a cabinet scraper between layers, ot will get rid of any burrs and should help.

I have literally no idea what this sentence means!

I'm not looking to take it all the way back. just sanding areas where it looks a bit dodgy, gently using fine textured sandpaper in direction of grain, then reoil.

I would do what you are thinking of doing. A light sand in the direction of the grain then re-oil. A nice thin coat, wipe off the excess after 10/20 mins, then repeat. Are you using osmo top oil?

Was it originally oiled?

Post some photos if you want more advice.

Ok, that's reassuring. Thank you. Yes, using Osmo top oil. It was totally sanded back - by a carpenter - as it's beautiful and expensive but had some stains. I was left in charge of oiling every day. This is not my forte!

I think I have quite a few areas that need light sanding.

I just took a photo of one area but it's so hard to see it in this light. It's just like I've wiped it wrong in the middle. There's a few places like this. Is it going to be doable?

I can see what you mean. It's not a problem. Osmo is very user friendly.

Just keep lightly sanding with the grain and re-oiling. I can't quite tell but I suspect the cross grain mark is from leaving too much oil on and not rubbing the oil in rather than 'bad' sanding.
Always apply and buff off the oil in the direction of the grain. I use a 800 grit sand paper between coats but other people like slightly courser. I like a really silky soft finish.

I always buff off the oil carefully. It almost feels you are removing as much oil as you've put on. Keep checking the finish from different angles so you can check the finish.

You can watch YouTube videos on this.

Thanks so much. Yes, it's not to do with sanding (I haven't sanded between layers, the carpenter never told me to do that). I've just oiled. I suspect I was too quick, and too much oil. He suggested using 120 or higher to light sand off in direction of grain.

So my plan in the morning is to 'buff' (? right word) off all the oil bits that look like they've been poorly applied/too much, then reoil. And check the reoiling from all directions!

Is that right? I'll also have a look at You Tube.

I feel that it would be helpful for me to learn to be more practical

I think yo7 have it right but just to be crystal clear,

Lightly sand using as high grit that you have but 240 minimum. Lots of woodworkers use steel wool but I don't like to. Wrap the sandpaper around a block so when you sand it's sanding with a 'flat' even pressure. Sand gently and feel the surface with your hand afterwards and see how it feels.

Wipe off the dust.

Wipe on oil with a rag or lint free cloth, rub it in but the final wipe should be in the direction of the grain.

Wait 10 to 20 mins. It will still be a bit wet. Then buff it off with a clean lint free cloth. (I just use old washed cotton socks) it will feel like you've wiped off all the oil. Your final wipe should be with the grain.

If you do this in the morning you can repeat it again in the evening.

Repeat two or three times and see if you are happy with the result.

With the final coat don't sand it unless you have 800 grit sandpaper.

People have all sorts of ways of applying osmo and they are mostly all ok but I do it like this if it's on oak and I get a perfect finish. 😁

Well you’ve had brilliant advise so hopefully it will turn out well. I just finished Osmo-ing an Oak table. I think the only other thing to say is you need way less Osmo on the brush than you think. I managed to ‘blob’ a couple of areas (even though I followed the grain, a couple of areas were obviously not even as I’d clearly put too much on the brush). Light sanding and going over again very carefully and it’s looking good. As PP said Osmo is very forgiving.

https://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&client=ms-android-ee-uk-revc&source=android-browser&q=cabinet+scraper

Here. Use one of these. It will make your counter top smooth and remove excess oil/burrs (where the wood grain raises due to the moisture). Use it between coats of oil.

Thanks everyone for your help, but particularly to @Tofilmo - amazingly helpful. It's turned out really well! There's one small area which is still a bit "lighter' but I'm going to wait till the am, then oil that bit again if necessary. Is that right? But all the 'oil wipes' look has gone, and sanding it with a 600 grit (highest I could find) has really made it smooth.

I'm really underconfident with anything DIY and I have no patience for it as a result. But I feel a small sense of achievement today! Thank you.

Sounds like you've done a great job. Next time the work surface need re-oiling you are going to be able to do it like a pro 😁

You can oil again in the morning. I'd do the whole thing rather than just the patchy bit but it's ok either way.

Once you are finished be careful with the surface for a few weeks until it's fully cured.

If it looks a bit worn or scratched in future you can simply apply another coat to spruce it up.

I don't use a brush with osmo oil. I use a lint free cloth or, sometimes, a white application disc that I put on my drill so it rubs the oil right into the grain.

Incidentally when I sand between coats I do the lightest of sands. It's basically to take off any little imperfections or raised grain. I basically just give the surface a wipe with the sanding block.