Natural White Oak has become the go-to for clean, minimalist natural Scandinavian design trends. This white oak mantel fits right in. Finishing the natural look well, however, can be tricky. Unfinished can risk a dirty, stained mess. Most spray lacquers create a plastic-like feel that distracts from the natural beauty of the wood. Traditional finishes tend to darken the wood and push it beyond the color range most people associate with the natural look. We’ve found a nice balance with a pre-treatment and a natural wax finish (including bees and carnauba waxes). It has a wonderful, smooth touch that allows you to still feel the wood grains and yet maintains the natural light color of the raw wood. The last picture in that set shows the finished mantel with a piece of raw wood above for comparison.

This mantel beam is solid. I think that this too is a basic requirement of the natural look. Solid wood. In most cases, assembled boxes look like that — artificial, assembled boxes. It’s tough to find a good alternative to solid material. But therein lies the challenge. Big wood is difficult to dry. We often say that drying wood is a bit like cooking meat. A 1in steak cooks in 10 minutes or less — leaving it a little raw on the middle. A 4in or 5in roast can take hours. The same is true of drying wood in kiln. If not done right, the middle is still wet (and raw). Wet wood can warp, crack, twist, and do other unexpected things. We don’t want that. This particular batch of white oak was stored in a heated shouse (shed/house) for almost 25 years. It is dry and has become what-you-see-is-what-you-get. It shouldn’t yield any surprises.

This particular natural white oak mantel is currently 5.75in tall x 5.5in deep x 72in long. It can be cut down to size and re-finished for no additional cost. We also have some similar 7.5in x 7.5in pieces that can be finished up. Please contact us at antiqueww@gmail.com or call 612-281-9330 for additional available mantels or custom work.

It can be shipped anywhere in the lower 48 states via FedEx Gnd for $150

About the tag – I get a kick out of these old advertisements. The little illustration of a speeding car — not like what we see today. This ad comes from a 1953 Farm Journal magazine. There’s also a great picture of the 1931 Indy Car with the Seal Fast Logo. Bowes Seal Fast is still in business today.