Being at the forefront of joinery surface coatings every day it is
interesting to see how preferences change over time with a constant raft of new
products coming onto the market. Some products enjoy mediocre success and then
fade into the background whilst others seem to take off and become mainstream
coatings quite quickly.
A once obsolete coating, Oil finishes, have enjoyed a resurgence over
the last few years. More and more often
we are seeing Oil finishes being specified as the preferred surface treatment
for both solid and veneered timbers.
So, what are oil finishes and why have they started to regain their
popularity?
Traditional lacquers that we have been applying to timber for the last
35 years are in essence a liquid plastic that is applied onto timber. When dry,
they create a plasticised protective coating on top of the timber. There are
numerous variations in products but essentially, they are all plastic coatings
of one sort or another.
Oil finishes are quite different. Often made from natural products like
nut oil or linseed oil, these products tend to soak into the surface of the
timber to both seal the surface and also create a hardened finish to the timber
surface.
Oil finishes tend to make the timber look more natural and when applied
using a matt gloss level the timber can tend to look like it is unpolished.
Oil finishes come in many styles and chemical formulations. Some oils
are pure nut oils that are applied and then buffed off, some have hardeners
included that allow for a harder finish and some are oil/lacquer hybrids that
both soak into the timber and also leave a small film build on top of the
surface.
At Simmonds polishing we have a full stable of oil finishes available to
meet all your clients needs. Often, we are given specifications on which
particular brand of oil is required and some times it is left up to us to
decide. Rest assured we can meet any specification you need.
Oil finishes are not yet sold in commercial quantities so unfortunately
the tend to be quite expensive. They are usually sold by boutique flooring
resellers who only carry 500 mill or 2.5 litre pack sizes. As they still tend
to be a boutique item, they are very expensive to purchase and also hard to
obtain in larger volumes. It is not unusual for oil to be anywhere up to ten
times the price of traditional lacquers.
Oil finishes are usually hand applied rather than sprayed so again this
adds to the application cost to you and the final users.
As with all lacquers there are advantages and disadvantages to using an
oil finish instead of a lacquer finish. In making a decision, we would normally
look into, what species of timber is being used, what the joinery is being used
for and what wear and tear can be expected.
If your client has asked for an oil finish please feel free to call us
to discuss your specific needs. We are using these products daily and are more
than happy to discuss your specific needs and suggest the best alternative
finish to meet those specific needs.
Call us any time at our head office in Knoxfield on 9753 3733
