Wetting wood before oiling has a long tradition. Although it has somewhat fallen out of fashion, it still makes sense to take the time for this proven pretreatment. More information is available in this article.
WHAT DOES WETTING MEAN?
Wetting means thoroughly rubbing the raw, fully sanded wood surface with a damp sponge, cloth, or mop before oiling. Contrary to what the term "wetting" might suggest, very little water is used. The sponge, cloth, or mop should therefore be only slightly damp. As a rule, no more than 10 - 20 ml of water per square meter is required.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WETTING?
The wood absorbs the water immediately and turns dark. The water causes the finest wood fibers, which were compressed during sanding, to swell and stand up, creating a rough surface. Don't worry, this is exactly what is intended. Once the wood has dried completely, as indicated by it returning to its original light color, the raised wood fibers can easily be sanded off with fine sandpaper or a sanding pad (P220 grit). Similar to shaving, the hairs are removed down to the root, preventing them from standing up again later. This is an important benefit when working with the water-based OLI-NATURA Scandic-Oil.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WETTING?
Wetting offers a number of additional benefits that are generally important when oiling:
1. More uniform surface appearance
The slight swelling of the wood fibers also levels out sanding marks and minor dents. When the wood is subsequently oiled, this results in a significantly more uniform surface appearance, because oils, especially colored oils, clearly emphasize sanding marks.
2. Better protection and more intense color
The water has opened the wood pores, allowing them to absorb more oil more evenly. This increases the protective effect and, with colored oils, significantly enhances the intensity of the color. Overall, the surface appearance is more uniform than without wetting.
3. Tannins (tannic acid) are washed out
Oak in particular, which is highly popular, has a high tannic acid content. Tannic acid is water-soluble and primarily responsible for unattractive light water marks. Since oils are always vapor-permeable, it cannot be completely ruled out that standing water will penetrate even the best protective layer. In this case, the water draws the tannins to the wood surface, causing the water marks described above. This risk can be significantly reduced by wetting the wood before oiling. If you even add a splash of OLI-NATURA Exterior Cleaner to the water, the formation of marks can be prevented even more reliably.
STEP BY STEP:
1) Before wetting, the surface is sanded and then thoroughly dusted.
2) Use clean, lukewarm water for wetting. A splash of OLI-NATURA Exterior Cleaner inhibits the reactivity of tannins in tannin-rich wood surfaces such as oak.
For industrial application, «OLI-NATURA Antique» can also be processed using a roller coating system.
3) The wetting can be done with a wrung-out cotton cloth or compressed sponge.
For floors, a damp mop is recommended.
4) Here, the wood surface is evenly moistened with a sponge.
5) Allow the wood surface to dry for long enough after wetting.
6) Once completely dry, the raised wood fibers caused by the water are cut off using a fine-grit sanding sponge or sandpaper (e.g., P220). Work in the direction of the grain and with light pressure.
7) Afterward, the wood surface is thoroughly dusted and treated with a protective oil.
Which wood oil is right for me?
If you would like to buy a wood oil, the selection may initially seem huge and overwhelming. We will help you make your decision and show you which OLI-NATURA Oils & Waxes are best suited to you or, more precisely, to your project. Our experts will quickly and easily recommend a suitable wood oil, answer your product questions, and provide application tips. We are happy to assist you with any questions by phone at 037208/84-488 or by email at faq@oli-lacke.de. (sst_10012023)
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