Hey Bill, Our fearless leader Steve Good uses and recommends lemon oil. That's why you hear a lot about it here.
Yes, I was aware of that. I had read some of Steve's blog entries regarding his use of lemon oil. I came away with the impression that other then liking the way it looked, even he didn't make a really strong case for using it.
I think part of the problem is defining just what lemon oil is. Some folks tend to get it mixed up with things like Lemon Pledge or other products that contain stuff like silicone and petroleum distillates and aren't really finishes at all, just a temporary polish. I'm skeptical of products that have lemon oil in their name but may or may not actually contain any real lemon oil. Finishing manufacturers engage in misleading marketing all the time. Just like with those products called tung oil finishes that contain no actual tung oil. I'm a firm believer that people should have an understanding of the finishes they use on their projects, the benefits and the limitations. At the very least, it helps avoid disappointment and perhaps might prevent us from ruining a project.
I'm not against using it( if I understood what "it" was) and certainly don't want to come off as being critical of anyone who does. I'm always interested in learning of new finish products and techniques. I first heard of lemon oil from a couple folks in my scroll saw club and when I asked them about it, they pointed me to this site, saying Steve used it. Then I read a number of posts and Steve's blog entries, but was still left wanting more definitive information. I did some of my own research on the web as well as in a couple highly regarded finishing books by Jewitt and Flexner. I can't say I've found much of anything that makes a strong case for it.
I apologize for the long-winded response and I'm sorry if I've offended any lemon oil proponents. I'll listen to anyone who wants to defend it and am quite willing to be taken to school, if someone can just explain it to me.
