Thread: Finishing brushbox stair banister

Have a look at Tung oil as a possibility. Gives a satin finish, easy to apply and enhances the natural wood tones. Easy to repair the finish too if you ever need to.

Thanks for that, will take a look!

Brushbox can vary a bit in colour but I doubt you would need to stain it without a very good reason. Any clear finish will bring out the deep colours in the raw timber.

I've used both polyurethane and just plain oragaoil on BB and really to an untrained eye nobody is going to pick. I assume it is an indoor staircase so salt in the air is probably not an issue.

In normal use I have found poly on a handrail works OK. I did mine 10 years ago and it wears well with handling, as you would expect since it is rated for use on floors. I have also used organoil on some brushbox furniture and it wears well as a furniture finish and I would guess it would do the job on a handrail, being continually polished by handling.

If there is a chance you are going to be sliding heavy things on the handrail that will scratch it, then an oil finish will be easier to repair.

Thanks. I ended up with FW scandinavian oil. First coat is on and it looks very nice, quite close to the floor all things taken into consideration. The finish is flat but hopefully will go more towards satin after the next coats(s).
I may have to see if a finish coat is needed and is possible - perhaps a protective of some sort but its basically around the upstairs landing and not down the stairs themselves it may not be in for too much wear.