Which wood oil is suitable for which wood?
Wood is a popular material and is used both indoors and outdoors. Wooden furniture on the terrace, decking, wooden floors or parquet in rooms - the look of the natural building material is impressive. Regular care is important so that wooden surfaces look their best for a long time. Wood oils care for the wood, make it more resistant to moisture, heat, cold and mechanical stress and even let the beautiful color of the grain shine again. So that you too can protect your garden furniture and co. against external influences with the right wood care, nourish the wooden surfaces and give the grain a new shine, we will tell you everything you need to know about wood oils below.
What is wood oil?
Wood oils, such as our BAUFIX wood care oil , are special care products that care for and protect wooden surfaces indoors or outdoors. They can consist of natural or synthetic ingredients. Natural wood oils or care oils based on plant ingredients are well suited for indoor use, as they are harmless to health and are less exposed to harsh conditions. Outdoors, the wooden surface must be protected from numerous weather influences, including moisture and UV radiation. This places a lot more demands on the wood protection. Therefore, decide which area of application you need the wood protection for before buying.
Natural wood oils
The natural products consist of natural ingredients such as tree resin. At the same time, they do not contain any additives such as solvents or other harmful substances. Since wooden surfaces in rooms such as parquet or wooden furniture are not exposed to stressful influences, the aim here is to care for the wood, provide moisture and refresh the color. This in turn highlights the grain and makes the wood visually appealing.
linseed oil
Linseed oils are based on vegetable oil and are therefore harmless. Linseed oil has been the all-rounder for ages when it comes to caring for all types of wood. It can even be used in the kitchen without any problems. A wellness treatment for the surface with linseed oil brings out the grain again and protects against damp moisture.
Furthermore, the natural wood protection contains ingredients such as orange or citrus peel oils or beeswax, which ensures that the protective layer becomes even stronger.
A special variant is linseed oil varnish. In contrast to linseed oil, it is enriched with drying agents and other additives, making it more viscous and forming a protective layer on the surface. It also does not penetrate as deeply into the wood, but provides greater protection against moisture.
hard oils
These oils are based on linseed oil, nut oil or tung oil, to which dissolved synthetic or natural resins are added. This ensures that hard oils dry and harden more quickly. Linseed oil usually has a very long drying time, which is not the case here. At the same time, they harden more and penetrate deeply into the wood. It is important that the hard oils are applied in several layers with a cloth. The wood oils are mainly used indoors for stressed wooden surfaces. But be careful: the term "wood protection oil" is not protected and so there are sometimes oils that contain substances that are harmful to health.
hard wax oils
Hard wax oils are a combination of oils such as sunflower, safflower or soybean oil and also contain wax, usually carnauba wax, which is obtained from the carnauba palm in Brazil. The difference to hard oils is that they do not contain any waxes. While hard oils penetrate deeper into the wood, hard wax oils lay down like a protective layer on the wood, impregnating it and making the wooden furniture more resistant and less susceptible to cracks or other damage. The waxes in the wood care product also give the wood surface a stronger, optical shine. BAUFIX hard wax oil is ideal for wooden floors and furniture indoors. It forms a water-repellent surface on wooden floors and pieces of furniture and still allows them to breathe.
Wood oil and its versatile application
Depending on the task the wood oil is supposed to perform, there are different variants of furniture oils.
Which wood oil can I use indoors?
Wood oils have a caring function in rooms. Furniture and wooden floors are not at risk from the effects of the weather. They can only be damaged by daily use. Therefore, wood care products should consist of purely natural ingredients and be free of solvents and other additives. Linseed oils or hard wax oils are the ideal companions if you want to oil the wood . These can even be used in the kitchen for worktops or even to care for wooden toys. However, always pay attention to the declaration or use, for example, the BAUFIX hard wax oil, which can even be used for solid furniture or mahogany. You can find the BAUFIX garden wood care oil specifically for teak wood.
Which wood oil can I use outside?
Wood oil has to deal with a lot more in outdoor areas. Heat, cold or UV radiation can have a strong impact on wood, so garden furniture, wooden floors on the terrace or facades must be treated with wood oil. This is the only way to protect it from the effects of the weather, drying out and greying. To achieve this effect, some of the wood oils contain pigments that protect against UV light. Colorless variants are produced with chemical components. A mixture of both usually offers the best protection. However, these products also mean that the natural look of the wood and the visibility of the grain are lost. In the end, however, the protective effect is impressive.
How long does wood oil need to dry?
Unlike glazes, intensive wood care requires a significantly longer drying time. Always remember that the oils penetrate deep into the material and protect it from the inside out. Therefore, it usually takes several hours to 7 days for the wood oil to dry completely or to be dust-dry. The exact drying time naturally varies from wood to wood. The instructions provided on the container are decisive.
How often should I treat furniture with wood oil?
Since the wear and tear outdoors is significantly higher than indoors, garden furniture or flooring should be refreshed with a new coat of oil once or twice a year. Oiled parquet can easily tolerate a new coat of paint every five years. Ultimately, the frequency depends on the external circumstances and the intensity of use.
Which solvents are contained in wood oil?
Wood preservative oils usually contain solvents. These can consist of natural substances such as isoparaffins and petroleum, or they can contain chemical compounds that are hazardous to health. It is therefore advisable to always take a close look at the ingredients. Wood oils with chemical ingredients should not be used indoors.
When treating children's toys, it is particularly important to pay attention to the standards DIN 53160 and DIN EN 71-3. These guarantee that the wood oil is saliva and sweat resistant and makes the children's toy safe.
How do I clean a brush after using wood oil?
There are special brush cleaners and thinners such as turpentine that can be used to clean brushes. Alternatively, the products can also be applied with a soft cloth or cotton cloth. Excess oil can also be removed with a clean cloth, microfiber cloth or cotton cloth.
Can you treat any piece of furniture with oil?
Generally yes, but they must not be varnished. It is therefore always the case that oiling wood is only possible if it is untreated or has already been oiled. If you have previously treated the material of the garden furniture or other components with wax or varnish, you must first remove this with intermediate sanding.
The oils protect your garden furniture and other items and bring out the natural look when oiled. With us you will find the right wood oil for your needs and the right accessories. We will be happy to advise you on all your questions.
Our wood oil: BAUFIX wood care oil
- enhances the natural wood color
- for wooden terraces & walkways
- for teak & hardwoods
- with waterproofing effect
- deep-acting, invigorating wood care
- for outside & inside