Your Questions ABOUT HASSUI CERAMIC & the Answers
The most common questions about Hassui Ceramic are listed below. Before you email us with a question, ask yourself—did you read through everything below? Remember this is a new product! If you are trying out new techniques with Hassui Ceramic, or have an unlisted question, we’d like to hear from you and learn about your Hassui challenges and triumphs. Go to the contact page to get in touch.
How do I get news & discounts on Hassui Ceramic?
Sign up for the Hassui Ceramic Newsletter for stock updates, occasional discounts and Hassui news by email. Thanks for your interest!
Can Woodspirit Handcraft ship Hassui outside of the United States?
No. We do not ship internationally due to flammability, cost, and shipping rules. In Europe there are two sellers Felix Bouchet in France and Yoav Kafets in the UK. Currently we do not know of any Canadian or Australian distributors.
When will you get the next shipment?
January 2026 we received a new shipment. Join the Hassui Ceramic newsletter to get future updates and discounts via email (fill out newsletter form below).
Where do you ship Hassui Ceramic? What shipping company do you use?
Due to the flammability of the product, we only ship within the US. We ship using USPS Parcel Select Ground for 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. If there is a significant savings we may also use UPS Ground which does not ship to PO Boxes. Shipments generally take 3-5 days to arrive, though in some cases they have taken weeks. You receive a tracking number when your order ships. Orders are shipped once a week.
What is Hassui Ceramic made of?
Hassui Ceramic is a silicon based polymer. The finish is made up of molecular silicon suspended in isoparaffinic hydrocarbon and isopropyl alcohol. As the alcohol volatiles evaporate, silicon aka an inert glass-like coating is left behind.
What is Hassui Ceramic good for?
Hassui Ceramic Wood Finish is excellent as a non-toxic, tasteless, non-yellowing finish for wood. It keeps the natural look of the wood while protecting the wood from dirt, food oils, and environmental degradation.
It is especially good for woodenware that you eat or drink from because it has no off oily or bitter smell or taste compared to walnut oil, tung oil and linseed oil finishes. It is good for wooden cups or bowls used for hot and cold liquids, as well as alcohol. (Wooden cups need special care.) As makers of woodenware designed for daily use, we think this is the best non-toxic finish for a natural wood look. It can also be used on furniture, tabletops, children’s toys, etc.
What ISN’T Hassui Ceramic good for?
Hassui Ceramic is not a thick, filling, or encasing finish. It is not like epoxy or sap or oil. It is thin like rubbing alcohol. It penetrates the wood, so it feels like a slightly slippery wood rather than a plastic coating. So don’t expect it to fill up holes, cracks, or porous wood. It builds very thin layers with each coat. In terms of staining or coloration, if you are using dark wood or are very particular—do a sample first to see if Hassui is right for your application. Hassui is not bullet proof. Try urushi lacquer if you want a natural waterproof sealant.
What brush do you recommend?
A chip brush works nicely, nothing too fancy as it will wear out over time. We use Royal & Langnickel Soft Grip Golden Taklon 1 inch brushes for application on our woodenware.
What do I clean it up with?
Rubbing alcohol and a paper towel cleans up your brush pretty well. You can also wash out any residual cured Hassui from a brush with soap and water.
What is the shelf life of Hassui Ceramic?
According to Yuriko Tokunaga, Hassui does not have a shelf life if it remains sealed and unopened, it will keep indefinitely. Hassui cures with solvent evaporation in air and contact with moisture in the air, so once the container is opened the finish will stay uncured as long as it is kept from humidity and air. Make sure your container is closed tightly as the product will evaporate easily if left unsealed.
I have found that after using a can of Hassui repeatedly for a year, the supply gets a bit “thicker” over time as a result of the solvent evaporating a little each time I open it to finish a batch of woodenware. “Thicker” means it takes a bit longer for each coat to cure. So I would say informally that you should plan to use up your supply within a year of opening for best results and replace the cap diligently when using.
Remember that isopropyl alcohol and isoparaffinic hydro-carbon are the solvents used with silicon. Ventilation and protective gear are needed. The cured product is completely inert and non-toxic. Using a sample is always recommended to find out if it’s what you are expecting. We personally love it and find it only second to urushi lacquer as the best finish for woodenware in daily use.
What can I use Hassui on? Should I make a sample?
We have used this finish on wooden spoons, potato mashers, cups, bowls, canisters, tool handles, & butcher block countertops, Cedar, Birch, Maple & Cherry woods. Others have used it on tables, chairs, stools, puppets, ukuleles, boats, walls, exotic woods, briar pipes etc. It is appropriate for hot and cold liquids, alcohol, and food contact.
We always recommend buying a sample to do a test before applying Hassui to your piece. Application rates vary according to the wood species as well as the look of the finish and how many coats you choose to apply.
How many coats should I apply?
This depends on the look you want and the wood you are coating. We apply 3 coats to our Maple wood tea canisters. The third coat leaves a slightly glassy finish.
For frequently washed items like cups and bowls we use at least 5 coats, making sure the first few coats heavily saturate the wood and fully cure 21 days before use. After a few years your piece can be renewed by reapplying a coat or two.
We used Hassui Ceramic on a Birch countertop from Home Depot. We applied 3 coats and used a little less than 1 fluid ounce per square foot for all the coats combined.
What is the Coverage per Square Foot? How much do I need to buy?
The porousness of your wood will affect the coverage—the more holes/pores in the wood, the more finish is needed. The first coat uses the most, with subsequent coats using quite a bit less.
We recommend doing a sample to test coverage on your particular piece!!!
The label lists approximately .5-1oz per square foot. So calculate your square footage and you will get an approximate quantity to start with.
We used Hassui Ceramic on a Birch countertop from Home Depot. We applied 3 coats and used a little less than 1 fluid ounce per square foot for all the coats combined.
More advice from Jazmin on applying Hassui Finish to Wooden Bowls, Plates and Cups
My advice is to make sure to fully saturate the bowls when you first apply it—so it kind of works out to applying three coats the first application time because I keep applying it after it soaks in (esp end grain), and it takes about three rounds to saturate. Then I apply a couple more coats in the next few days. I wait until the piece is not tacky for the subsequent coats. You will be able to tell when they are “done” (depends on the sheen you want and the wood—walnut less, birch more). I sand very lightly between coats as needed 600 grit or higher—usually because my brush had residual Hassui on it and caused the next coat to be slightly gritty. After the last coat it needs 21 days to full hard. I use a post it to keep track of coats and dates.
Are there volatiles in this product? Does it smell?
Yes. Isopropyl alcohol and isoparaffinic hydro-carbon are the solvents used with silicon. Ventilation and protective gear are needed. Make sure there is adequate ventilation when applying the product and use gloves (safety glasses and apron too) in case of drips/splatters. Read all safety instructions included before beginning application. Although the cured product is completely inert and non-toxic, there are safety hazards during application if you do not follow the safety protocols.
The cured finish will not have a smell. Usually after a few days the smell will have evaporateed.
Refer to the Safety Data Sheet for more information.
There are glossy spots where the wood grain is more dense—what do I do?
To avoid glossy spots, gently wipe the finish with a clean cloth where the finish looks glossy before it dries.
Can I apply Hassui Ceramic to veneer wood or will it dissolve the glue?
Hassui Ceramic can be applied to unfinished veneer and it will not dissolve the glue.
I’ve watched demonstration videos and it appears that the application is quite easy: a decent natural brush (chip brush even) and a couple of thin coats…looks almost like applying a wash. Any tips on getting a smooth finish?
I think the main thing for a smooth finish is a well prepared surface ie sanded and dust free or knife finished and a clean brush. The density of the wood plays a major role as well. After using Hassui, clean the brush with rubbing alcohol and wipe dry. Some tiny silicon particles might remain on the hairs, but if you can wait long enough for the particles to dry/cure (5 days?) they come off the hairs easily by washing the brush with soap and water. Or you just deal with the tiny particles by sanding between coats with 600-1500 grit, when the piece is dry/not sticky to the touch. That is what I usually do. The dried/cured Hassui has an interesting slippery feel. As you use it you will get used to its properties. The first coats absorb like a wash, but then the layers start to build and drying time gets longer. I do at least 3 coats, more often 5, and even more for cups. You can feel when the piece is “done”. The shine will lessen through use. And you can always add more coats in the future.
Can I apply Hassui over another finish? I'm in the process of making hardwood tabletops and desktops. Do you think Hassui might work on top of a hard wax oil or even a traditional oil such as boiled linseed oil or Danish oil?
I have personally put Hassui over old plates, bowls, and cups that were finished with linseed oil as well as ones finished with what we used to use—Treatex which is very like Osmo. It worked just fine—didn’t seem to affect or dissolve the undercoat—however these items were fully cured before applying Hassui. The Hassui laid on top and created a gloss right away. I think the only concern would be the bond of Hassui on the surface of the previous finish. Hassui is designed to penetrate the wood and bond there, so there could be an issue with the Hassui not being as durable when applied on top—meaning sensitive to abrasion and needing recoating more often than if it was allowed to soak in to the unfinished wood. Just make sure to let it cure to full hard before use.
Testimonials
My first batch of shot glasses has finished curing and, as promised, water beads up and runs right off of them. So do tequila and whiskey. After sipping a shot, there was only a drop or two of liquor left in the glass, unlike glass glasses where there's always a substantial film of liquid left inside. The Hassui was very easy to work with, dried cleanly and quickly, and I will certainly want to buy more once my little can runs out. Thank you for introducing me to this fantastic finish!
—Kalia Kliban, woodturner, Sebastopol, CA
