anybody worked with Watco Danish Oil? I need to refresh my cabinets

in the kitchen. they are in decent shape, but are looking dry and cracked in some areas

I'm hoping to find a one step product that will put a bit of color back into the wood and freshen the appearance without having to totally sand them down

suggestions?

It can be stained to match your cabinets. Then sand and refinish. That's really the best thing to do, just roughen the surface enough to get a coat of water based varnish to stick.

I use Watco mostly on unfinished wood items that I don't want to varnish, like my spinning wheel and some of the loom parts. I've also used it on a wooden bench on my front porch, and it seems to make it impervious to water.

There are some products in the supermrket (I think Murphy's makes one) that are made specifically to refresh wood cabinets. They're quite a bit less toxic than Watco and quite a bit safer to use. Rags soaked with Watco WILL spontaneously combust, so disposal is an issue. I'd advise using one of these temporary jobbies until you get the ambition up to do the light sanding and varnishing.

I'm trying to get it to look good for the open house for almost no $$

:evilgrin:

If the cracks are large ones, consider using one of those filler pencils available at hardware stores.

I'd advise against the Watco or any other tung oil for the toxicity and the disposal problems.

No need to do anything but clean 'em. You wipe it on with a cloth. I even use it to coat antique tools. It comes in flat, satin and gloss. Take your pick. Nothing is easier to use.

that would be great!

(though Watco is a very fine product)

When I was puting up a house for sale, the lady I hired to help me 'spiff it up' showed me to put a bit of lemon oil on all the bathtub, bath & kitchen faucets. WOW, they just sparkled! No issues of waterspots... isn't oily. Just a couple of drops on a cloth and they looked like they were ready for a high-fallutin' magazine shot.