Several times I have had the opportunity and honor to refurbish pieces made by the Japanese-American furnituremaker, George Nakashima. On one occasion I called the Nakashima shop, which is still in operation, and asked the late-maker's daughter, Mira Nakashima, about what finishes were used. She told me that the last thing to go on all Nakashima furniture was a hand-rubbed coating of mineral oil. I have since found that this is a great way to freshen up a piece of woodwork.

I use mineral oil from the local pharmacy because it is generally cheaper than the stuff sold in hardware stores. The intended use is as a laxative, so it must be safe to use as a furniture polish.

I use a cotton rag and rub a generous amount into the wood. Then I take a clean rag and rub off all the excess, always rubbing with the grain wherever possible. And that's all there is to it. Gives the wood a nice warm glow. For more pics, go to the Process page of my website.