It is entirely possible and interesting to recreate the look of oil-varnished wood, such as black walnut or mahogany, using water-based varnishes as a transparent finish.

It is well known that water-based varnishes do not alter the original color of the wood, unlike old oil-based varnishes that provided silky, warm tones with a lot of depth.

Since the disappearance of oil-based varnishes and significant improvements in water-based varnishes, it is now easy to recreate these warm effects on woods like black walnut, mahogany, various exotic woods, as well as more common woods like maple, oak, or white pine.

Here is the procedure to successfully combine oil and water:

1. Ensure that you have performed a fine sanding on open-grain woods such as oak, ash, or black walnut. Use a 220-grit sandpaper for the final sanding. For woods like maple or white pine, 180-grit will be sufficient.
2. In all cases, clean the wood thoroughly with an Odorless Thinner and a clean White Cloth to ensure that the wood pores are perfectly clean.
3. After a drying time of 45 minutes, apply a layer of finishing oil (such as clear Secondo) to enhance the texture and depth of the chosen wood.
4. Always wipe off the excess oil, making sure not to leave any residue on the wood.
5. Wait for 24 to 36 hours for the oil to dry completely.

Finally, you can apply coats of water-based varnish that will enhance the new color of the oil-treated wood.