Well Oiled in Your Comfort Zone

When you have finished your watch it's good to have the welcome of warm wood as you slide below decks. Bright gloss varnish can sometimes be a bit much reflecting the glare of lamps or the glint of bright sun flashing off the sea. The soft warmth of oiled wood can be a welcome relief and it is so quick and easy to apply and maintain.

Topside it is pretty essential to have an extremely durable varnish to resist the rigours of sun salt and the elements. However, below decks is a rather different matter. Although good protection for your wood is necessary the armour plating used topside isn't. The perfect alternative to give your timber the necessary protection and impart a well-fed soft gleam to surfaces is oil. Oil's come in many forms but the essential here is for a drying oil which will present a sealed non-tacky surface capable of resisting heat and moisture and able to imbue all the natural beauty of the wood.

The oils we would suggest that would fulfil all these requirements are Tung oil based. Tung oil is extracted from the seeds of the Tung tree found in China where it has long been used to for the preservation and embellishments of natural wood. Used in its pure form it polymerises spontaneously over an extended drying time, in the region of two to four days probably more, but compounded with dryers and other constituents in the form of finishing oil or a Danish oil the drying time is reduced to a matter of four to six hours. This oil is also an important component in paints and varnishes extending their durability and resistance to weathering.

Application is a simple matter of applying a generous coat with a brush or cloth, allowing time for it to be absorbed (say 10 to 15 minutes) and wiping away the excess. It is important that the excess oil is removed from the surface otherwise a tacky residue will remain after drying is complete. Allow the oil to dry for four to six hours to ensure that the wood fibres have been properly sealed and that subsequent layers of oil are successfully built upon the previous one. Further coats can be applied in the same way until you are satisfied with the finish, at least two but normally three to four. When the final coat has been dry for a day or two it can be de-nibbed with a non-woven abrasive pad such as Webrax and buffed to a soft shine.

The way these compounded oils are put together varies from manufacturer to manufacturer with recipes undisclosed in detail. However, with the root being of Tung oil most will provide good resistance to heat and moisture encountered within the cabin environment. Damage or wear can usually be rectified by reapplying the oil to a clean dry surface using the Webrax pad. The same regime can be used for periodic maintenance after cleaning with a good detergent.

Chestnut Products Finishing Oil is probably one of the most reliable drying oils we have supplied for internal timberwork and furniture proved by customers to perform far beyond its recommended parameters. Liberon Superior Danish Oil has also been found to produce excellent results with the added element of UV protection. Liberon also offer Pure Tung Oil for the traditionalists with a little more time to develop the finish they want.

For wooden bowls, platters and food preparation surfaces Chestnut Products have a Food Safe Oil based on medicinal grade liquid paraffin which is non-tainting and will provide an easy wipe over protection for close contact surfaces after cleaning.

Special Note - as with all organic oil the natural oxidisation will produce heat. For most purposes this is small and readily dissipated however confined in an oil soaked rag screwed up and dumped in a bin of combustible material the result can in certain situations be combustion. To avoid this either lay the rag out flat to dry or confine it within a sealed tin or jar until you are ready to use it again.

All these products and so much more are available from Axminster Tool Centres over the counter, by phone 0800 371822, or online from www.axminster.co.uk. Over 12,000 product lines and technical advice is yours for the asking. We also have a 623 page catalogue packed with things you need whatever the task - it's free just ask.


Axminster Power Tool Centre, 17 July 2007

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