In the year 2015 consumers, carpenters and woodworking enthusiasts saw a massive rise in the creation and design of wood working projects. In particular during the summer of 2015 we saw a lot of trending social media posts and articles by everyday home owners and enthusiasts who were promoting the use of rebated wood from old wooden pallets and various recycling sources. Do you remember some of these exquisite productions? Like the outdoor garden chair or decorative coffee table.
There are a lot of wood oils, waxes, varnishes and lacquer finishes available in todays current market where you will find the top brands like
Liberon, Rustoleum and more who aim to dominate the market with eco friendly products and fantastic wood finishes.
With that been said there is still a lot of confusion about how, when and where to use wood oils. It comes as no surprise as there is a virtually unlimited scope of products to choose from such as teak oil, tung oil, danish oil, linseed oil and more.
In this week's blog article we thought we would take a look at something different and cover 4 of the most commonly used wood oils and see how they can benefit your woodworking project.
Wood oil has definitely become one of the most popular ways to finish wood. They are manufactured by the extraction and cooking of natural oils like linseed oil and even extends to soya oil. The primary benefit of using wood oils over varnishes and lacquers is their tendency to bring out the full character and effect of the wood. So when you are looking for that tailored and fantastic finish, wood oils are the next hottest thing. Now on the other hand, the protection offered by oils isn't as robust or effective as lacquers and varnishes. Other benefits include the fact that they are manufactured from natural oils, meaning they can be used in a larger spectrum of applications because they are non-toxic and significantly less harmful to organic and living materials.
Types of Wood Oil | Properties & How To Use Them
Four of the most commonly used finishing oils include:
- Teak Oil
- Danish Oil
- Tung Oil
- Linseed Oil
Teak oil is a traditional natural wood oil which is manufactured from a blend of the finest pure tung oil and linseed oil for the best natural protection and a subsequently glossier wood finish. The oil is designed to give unparalleled protection against UV light (fading) and fungi moulding. It contains no artificial resins or varnishes. The oil can be used on a complete range of woods in both internal and external applications (including teak), however it best suits the protection of exterior hardwoods.
The wood oils engineering allows for the deep penetration of wood pores in order to nourish and protect it, before sealing; giving a long lasting and water resistant barrier. Thanks to it's deep penetrative formula the teak oil enhances the natural beauty and grain of the wood. Additionally because the teak oil doesn't have a resins or varnishes it helps to eliminate a common problem that is caused by mixed oils or pure varnishes where it permanently blocks the woods pores, restricting movement and essentially plasticising the wood.
Applying Teak Oil
Applying teak oil can seem to be a relatively straight forward process, however it does take careful planning and preparation. Preparation of the workpiece is crucial before application. Wipe down and clean the surface giving it time to dry. Then apply the teak oil in even strokes with a wide brush (depending on the size of the workpiece). Afterwards allow the oil to penetrate the wood. When you start to notice the surface oil changing to thicker glue like consistency (when the wood has absorbed the oil) wipe the workpiece with a clean cloth to remove the excess oil. If you want you can use a second rag to buff dry. For best results apply 2-3 coats but leave 24 hours between coats.
A funny fact about the name "Danish Wood Oil". Historically the term seems to have appeared during the mid 20th century when there was a huge boom in the export of Scandinavian furniture that featured a low sheen finish and when production of the oils began it was simply easier to print "Danish" rather than "Scandinavian".
But what is Danish Oil? It is a top quality wood oil that has been designed to penetrate wood in order to protect and nourish it from the inside out. It's very simple to apply and boasts a naturally low sheen effect whilst offering fantastic long term protective properties. Most danish oil producers use a mixture of either tung oil or linseed oil as a core base with the addition of synthetic varnishes and resins. The danish wood oils often have a rather fast drying time in comparison to other oils of 4 - 8 hours.
Danish oil can be used on almost any wooden surface, including interior and exterior items like furniture, cladding, skiting boards and more. There is a diverse selection of applicable wood types that are compatible with it.
Applying Danish Oil
Like most jobs it takes preparation and planning before diving straight in. In order to prepare the working surface make sure that it is clean and uncovered. For instance if it has already been wood stained or varnished then make sure to remove it with a white spirit based cleaning product, letting it dry before application. The oil is best applied with a lint free cloth or alternatively a good quality paint brush. It should be applied liberally and evenly over the working surface. When using a cloth ensure to use a figure of 8 or circular motion for maximum absorption. Again wait 15-20 minutes for the oil to turn "sticky" clean the excess with a clean cloth and then use a secondary clean cloth to buff the workpiece. 3-5 coats are recommended for use. Leave 24 hours between coats for maximum results.
Often to be believed as one of the finest natural oils tung oil is fantastic for protecting a range of woods. The oil is extremely versatile to work with suiting a huge range of interior and exterior wood surfaces. One of the major benefits of tung oil is its natural resistance against water, food and alcohol based chemicals ensuring it is safe for food contact, so if you're a sculptor of wooden bowls etc then this is the right finishing oil for you. It's also EN71 certified for use with wooden children's toys. The pure tung oil best suits natural oak and teak woods.
Applying Tung Oil
Just to re-iterate the point that surface preparation is the most important aspect of finishing any wood working job. All dirt, grease and excess sawdust etc needs to be removed from the surface before application. In most instances (depending on the wood) it is advisable to use a white spirit based degreasing agent. If you are working on aged wood use a sander to smooth the surface to a bright natural colour to allow for maximum absorption.
Tung oil is best applied with a lint-free cloth or can be applied with a good quality paint brush. When applying the wood oil the first two coats should be allowed to saturate into the wood before applying any other coats. Additionally if you are using new wood, it is recommended to thin the first two coats with white spirit. The application should follow a circular or figure of 8 motion for maximum absorption. Allow to penetrate for 20-30 minutes before cleaning and buffing. Recommended coats for maximum effect is 3-5 coats.
Linseed oil has a huge range of uses that expand outside of that of the woodworking industry however it holds a number of advantages for those using it in timber projects. It is manufactured via the extraction of oils from the flax seed and is primarily used in the protection and preservation of wood, timber, concrete, paints and varnishes and stains. It comes in two standard forms as boiled linseed oil or pure linseed oil.
Raw Linseed The pure version is mercilessly squeezed from the flax seed and is left unmixed or untouched with no extras or preservative. It dries very slowly taking a number of weeks and should be considered for use with smaller projects where finish and drying time is not a project constraint. However it is more beneficial due to its slow drying process where it leaves a smoother and cleaner finish i n comparison to boiled linseed oil.
Boiled Linseed Oil - This changes the characteristics of the linseed oil essentially making it a faster drying product than its raw form. This inherently makes it a better product for the long term preservation of projects.
Applying Linseed Oil
As mentioned there are two primary versions of linseed oil "Raw" and "Boiled". When preparing the surface take care to make sure it is free of dirt and grease. Remove it with a degreaser if it is and if it is a new wood product make sure to sand the surface to a smooth bright colour. If you are using PURE OIL then mix it in a ration of 60:40 with mineral turpentine or a thinner for the initial two coats. If using boiled linseed oil you can apply directly without the need to mix. In the instance of raw oil apply very thin coats and evenly with a good quality paint brush.
As mentioned earlier the Raw linseed oil can take weeks to dry so apply your first two coats and wait. In the case of boiled linseed oil it as long as it is applied evenly and liberally you should get a nice smooth finish. Suggested 3-5 coats and a 24 hour period between coats.