Soap finish, a shop-made polish with a long history of use in Europe, is becoming increasingly popular among furniture makers here in the States. It’s environmentally friendly and safe to use without PPE, and although it only provides moderate protection and durability, its simple formula, silky finished feel, and easy reparability tip the scale in its favor for many applications.
I first learned of using soap as a wood finish when I was studying fine wood-working at The College of the Redwoods. One of my fellow students hailed from Sweden, where the use of soap finish on
