Dear James: We just bought an older house with lots of natural woodwork. Can we sand it down and refinish it with another natural oil finish? What are some tips to apply the finish? —Tammy V. Dear Tammy: Staying with a natural oil finish is a good idea both for its original attractiveness and the resale value of your house someday. If you do not count your time in refinishing and applying the oil, it is a fairly inexpensive project anyone can do. The chances are good that the old woodwork currently has a natural oil finish on it. You can usually tell by the soft and deep appearance and how it feels when you touch it. Using the same refinishing method as was done originally is a timesaver and makes any application errors less apparent. An oil finish is not going to be as durable as a urethane or …