Wood oil is a lovely, multi-toned wood paint that also has protective benefits. It can be used on bare wood and timber, as well as over the top of wood stains. It brings out the natural beauty of the wood by adding a pleasantly contrasting sheen over the wood grain. Although the protective qualities of wood varnishes are more long-lasting, woodworkers appreciate wood oils for their emphasis on individuality.
Why use wood oils?
Wood oils seep into the wood and replace and replenish its natural oils to provide additional protection. Wood oils can revitalize wood surfaces back to their natural hues, giving them a second lease of life. High-quality wood oils may be used to keep and rejuvenate any sort of furniture, decking, or flooring.
How to safely work with wood oils?
When it comes to wood oil, there are a few basic health and safety precautions that you should follow. Wood oil is a combustible liquid, therefore the equipment like brushes and rags should be handled with care. Wet application equipment can produce heat as the oil dries. Therefore, cloths and sheets should not be crumbled or rolled and should be dried on flat concrete surfaces to avoid this danger. The wood surface should not be exposed to the sun or heat sources. Make sure that rags are soaked in water before being disposed of to avoid spontaneous combustion.
What are the types of wood oils?
Functional types of wood oils include the following three categories:
Decking Oil
Decking oils are ideal for preserving newly erected decking long-term as they provide a long-lasting weatherproof covering to your wood. If you have a smooth decking surface (with no ribs and grooves), apply a top coat of Osmo Anti-Slip Decking Oil after a coat of Osmo Decking Oil. This oil includes a unique highly compressed organic non-slip additive that is evenly dispersed throughout the finish and prevents slippages when dry.
Furniture Oil
Furniture oils are mostly used on outdoor wooden furniture such as garden benches, tables, and chairs. Furniture oil may be used on both softwoods and hardwoods, however, it’s always a good idea to double-check the manufacturer’s compatibility recommendations since oils will often necessitate specific timber types.
Osmo Natural Oil Woodstain is a great choice for outdoor furniture since it may be used on both vertical and horizontal surfaces. It comes in a variety of glossy or matte clear and coloured finishes. The “wood-look” clear finish does not offer UV protection, allowing the surface to naturally “grey” and “age” with time, while colored finishes include varying degrees of UV protection. A rule of thumb is that the darker the hue, the more UV protection it offers.
You might want to go with Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector to be more eco-friendly. The 0% VOC RMC Hybrid Wood Protector is a one-coat oil that may be used on both horizontal and vertical surfaces of exterior wood (both soft and hard). This oil is highly user-friendly thanks to its simple application and upkeep.
Floor Oils
Floor oil is used to protect floors from the wear and tear of heavy pedestrian traffic. They come in a variety of different finishes that may be used on both softwoods and hardwoods. Hardwax oils, such as Osmo Polyx Hardwax Natural Oil, are used on a wooden floor since they are better than varnish in enhancing the natural characteristics of the wood.
We’ve gone through the wood oil types based on the surface condition and usage. Now we’ll look at those depending on the wood they’re used on, as certain oils are better for certain wood species.
Linseed oil
Linseed oil is a popular choice for nourishing and preserving wood. It’s made from the seed of the linseed-flax plant, and it comes in a variety of forms. It is one of the most common finishing oils in the world due to its simplicity of use and low price.
The two most frequent linseed oils are Fiddes raw linseed oil and Fiddes boiled linseed oil.
Linseed oil that has not been refined is known as raw linseed oil. It does not include driers or thinners, so it takes significantly longer to dry. Raw linseed oil is commonly used on cricket bats to keep moisture and minimize the chance of cracking and splitting.
On the other hand, boiled linseed oil has had hot air blown through it to speed up the drying process considerably. The oil penetrates the wood’s pores and gives it a classic hardwearing finish. It is suitable for use on any sort of wood other than outdoor oak.
Linseed oil is used depending on the type of wood stain. Only water-based or non-grain-raising stains should be utilized since solvent-based stains might prevent the oil from penetrating fully. For outdoor wood, we recommend Rubio Monocoat Sunprimer as a water-based stain.
Danish oil
Danish oil is best suited to new, unprocessed woods. It’s thinner than linseed oil and contains a faster drying rate, making it more of a varnish/thin-oil mix. It takes approximately 15 minutes for the Danish oil to soak into the wood. A single layer should be applied each day; multiple layers create a thick and durable covering. Fiddes Danish Oil is our top pick.
Tung oil
Tung oil is a transparent plastic coating that’s used in printing ink and oil paints. This sort of oil may be thinned with a hydrocarbon thinner, allowing the finest grain woods to be penetrated. Tung oil may be applied in several thin applications to achieve a wetted wood appearance with a golden hue. The best solution is Fiddes Pure Tung Oil.
Hardwax oil
Hardwax oil can give an excellent finish to interior hardwood floors and furniture. When compared to other wood oils, it has a more durable protective covering. Hardwax oils provide a long-lasting protective coating that seals in the moisture, and prevents stains, heat damage, dirt, and wear and tear. Hardwax oils, such as Osmo Polyx Oil Original, provide a wood finish that combines the benefits of natural oils and waxes in one very fast-drying product.
Teak oil
Teak oil is most often used on exterior wood surfaces, notably teak wood. But teak oil can also be applied to a variety of woods. Linseed oil, varnish, mineral spirits, and occasionally Tung oil are the primary components of the mixture. We recommend Fiddes Teak Oil.
We’ve gone through the many sorts of wood oils, their features, and safety precautions for using them. This data will assist you in selecting the best pick for your needs. Read our article on how wood oils are applied and removed to learn more about wood oils.
