FAQ

Water-Borne Sealer or Salvent Sealer?

Both Woodoc Water-Borne and Solvent-Based Sealers are penetrating sealers. The first coat penetrates and binds with the wood, while the second and third coats provide a protective finish on the surface. Both these types of sealers provide a strong, hard finish and will protect wood against water and alchohol stains and everyday, wear and tear. Solvent-Bases Sealers will enhance the natural colour of the wood and the wood could therefore appear a little darker after sealing. Water-Borne Sealers on the other hand will not enhance the colour of the wood or yellow with age. Water-Borne Sealers dry quickly and are virtually odourless, while Solvent-Based Sealers will smell of solvent until the product has cured properly. They also take longer to dry. Water-Borne Sealers are considered to be more enviromentally friendly than Solvent-Based Sealers. After the use of Woodoc Solvent-Based Sealers, brushes are cleaned with mineral turpentine, while water is used to clean brushes after the use of Woodoc Water-Borne Sealers.

Can Interior Sealers be used outside and can Exterior Sealers be used inside?

The interior sealers cannot be used outside. They do not provide protection against the sun as they do not contain any UV-absorbers. The exterior sealers can be used inside, but will take longer to dry than outside. It is recommended however, that interior sealers are used inside and exterior sealers outside.

Are the different interior sealers compatible, eg can Woodoc 20 be applied over Woodoc 10?

The different interior sealers are compatible and can be applied over each other, provided the surface is first cleaned/scrubbed well with steel wool and mineral turpentine.

Can Interior Sealers be applied over Exterior Sealers and Exterior Sealers over Interior Sealers?

This is not recommended , as the exterior products have been formulated with exterior conditions in mind and the interior products with interior conditions in mind.

Can other paints/varnishes/sealers be applied over Woodoc products?

Most oil paints with mineral turpentine as solvent can be used over Woodoc products. The best is to consult manufactures of other products to determine weather their products can be used over Woodoc products.

Can Woodoc Sealers be applied over other sealers/sanding sealers/varnish/paint?

Because Woodoc Sealers are penetrating sealers, they must be appled to bare, sanded surfaces so that they can penetrate deeply to feed the wood, bind with the wood and finally form a protective coating on the surface. Woodoc Sealers should therefore NOT be applied over the other varnishes, sealers, paints or sanding sealers.

How to prevent furniture from becoming dull/waxy/smery when using Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax?

usded sparingly in order to avoid a wax build-up which will cause furniture to look dull and smeary. So not squirt the wax directly onto the surface. Dampen a cloth with wax and wipe over the surface. If a wax build-ip does occurehowever, it is easily removed with cloth/steel wool, dampended with mineral turpentine.

What is the differnce between Woodoc Deep Penetrating Wax and Woodoc Penetrating Weatherproof Wax?

These two products are both maintenance waxes, with the only difference the fact that the Woodoc Pentetrating Weatherproof Was contains UV-obsorbers and is therefore the ideal maintenance product for an exterior sealed surface. Woodoc Deep Penetrating Wax is a maintenance product for interior surfaces. While the Woodoc Penetrating Weatherproof Wax can be used inside, the Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax cannot be used outside.

Can Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax and Woodoc Antique Wax be used on French Polish?

Yes, but if you wan to maintain the high gloss on the French Polish, the use of Woodoc Antique Wax is recommended.

Can Woodoc Penetrating Weatherproof Wax be used on unsealed garden/patio furniture?

Yes, but it will provide very little protection on unsealed surfaces. The surfaces should be seales with a Woodoc Exterior sealer and the weatherproof wax used for maintenance. It will feed the wood through the sealer and help to last longer.

How to ensure that Woodoc 5 does not create a shiny/glossy finish?

Stir the tin very well before and also during application. Do not apply in direct sunlight. Finish off with fine steel wool and Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax for a smooth "oiled" finish after the third coat of Woodoc 5 had dried.

How to ensure that Woodoc 10 does not create a shiny/glossy finish?

Sand lightly with fine steel wool and Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax after the third coat had dried. This will create a lovely, smooth velvety finish.

Why does a wet glass leave watermarks, even though the surface had been sealed with a Woodoc interior sealer?

A water mark is an indication that not enough product was applied. The application of three liberal coats of sealer, according to the application instructions, will prevent water marks

Why do the Woodoc interior sealers sometimes leave a patchy finish on wood types such as Imbuia and African Padauk?

These are oily wood types and difficult to finish. The wood should be scrubbed thoroughly with steel wool and mineral turpentine after sanding and before applying a Woodoc sealer. Wipe dry and apply. Do not wait for days before applying a sealer as the oil will exude again.

Why would Woodoc interior sealers peel off?

They could peel off if applied over old varnish or polish, or if there is oil in the wood, preventing penetration of the sealer. Damp wood could also cause the sealer to peel off as the moisture will prevent the sealer from penetrating into the wood.

Is Woodoc 25 a glossy product?

Woodoc 25 is available in two finishes:

Can Woodoc sealers be used on veneers?

Woodoc products were formulated for use on solid wood. There are therefore products that can not be used on veneer e.g. Woodoc 5 and Woodoc 10. Woodoc 20, Woodoc 25 (Matt & Satin), Woodoc 2000 can be used on new veneer.

Why did the sealer not last well/ started to biodegrade after only a few months?

Not enough product was applied. It is very important to apply 3 proper coats. The tinted sealers, such as Woodoc 35/Woodoc 55 will last longer than their clear equivalents, Woodoc 30/Woodoc 50. The transparent iron-oxides in the tinted products provide additional protection against the UV-rays of the sun.

Why did the sealer peel off?

Not enough sealer applied, or there was still oil/old varnish on the surface when the sealer was applied. If the wood is damp, the sealer will also peel off.

Why did the sealer make white marks?

• The exterior sealers usually make white marks if they have become wet e.g. if it rains soon after application. If this happens, the surface will have to be sanded down again and resealed.
• Damp could also cause white marks.
• The use of thinners can also cause this problem.

Why did the sealer remain sticky and tacky long after it should have been dry?

• If the wood was wet/damp, the sealer will not dry properly and will remain sticky.
• If there was still oil in the wood, the sealer could also remain sticky.
• The use of thinners can also cause this problem.

Which wood types are suitable for the application of Deck Sealer?

Soft porous wood types, e.g. pine, meranti.

Which wood types are suitable for the application of Deck Dressing?

Hard dense wood types, e.g. balau, iroko, kari, teak, saligna.

What type of finish does the Deck Sealer provide?

A low-gloss finish.

Why a Deck Sealer when Woodoc 55 is also suitable for soft porous decking?

Consumers wanted a low-gloss finish for decks. If a customer prefers a high gloss product, he can still use Woodoc 55.

Surface preparation before applying the Deck Sealer?

The same as for any Woodoc Exterior Sealer.

Can the Deck Sealer be used on other surfaces, besides decks?

Woodoc Deck Sealer is also suitable for window frames, doors, gates, where a tinted, low-gloss finish is required.

Why was no colour build-up achieved?

The final colour is built up over the three coats. No colour usually means that not enough product had been applied. If the wood is very porous, the product will penetrate a lot and lots of product would have to be applied in order to get proper colour build-up. Stir well before and during application.

Why was a streaky, uneven finish achieved?

This usually occurs when the product is not stirred well and the Colour settles at the bottom of the tin. Always stir very well before, as well as during application.

Can the Colours be diluted with anything other than a Woodoc Sealer?

No, they can only be used in a Woodoc sealer.

Can more than one bottle of Colours be added to one litre of Woodoc sealer?

Yes, but that could retard the drying of the sealer used with the Colour. It could also influence the finish achieved. The maximum that can be added is 3 X 20 ml bottles of Colours into one litre of Woodoc sealer.

Is it necessary to sand between coats?

A light sanding with fine steel wool is essential as it smoothes down the wood fibres which tend to stand up when the sealer is applied. If no sanding is done between coats, the end result will be a rough finish.

Why do the sealers thicken in the tins and how to prevent this from happening?

As the tin is opened and the sealer used, oxygen enters the tin and this causes the sealer to thicken eventually.

• Storing the tin upside down will help.
• Always close the lid in the same position by marking the tin and the lid with a koki pen.
• Do not use a hammer directly on the lid when closing, it damages the lid. Rather put a plank over the lid and hammer the plank.
• It is also a good idea to decant the remaining sealer into a smaller tin or a glass bottle with a long neck.
• Keeping the tin artificially full by adding marbles as the sealer is used, also helps to prevent the sealer from solidifying.

What to do when the sealer (mostly Woodoc 10) turns to jelly in the tin?

Although it is too late to dilute it, this "jelly" can still be applied with a cloth to create a lovely velvety finish.

What to do when the sealer remains sticky after application and does not dry completely?

Clean down well with steel wool and mineral turpentine, allow to dry and apply next coat. If it remains sticky, sand down to bare wood.

Why can the Woodoc sealer sometimes be scratched off the surface?

If the sealer can be scratched off the surface, it probably has not dried properly, in which case it should be left to dry. In cold weather the sealer will take longer to dry. There could however, be another reason: if there is any oil/wax/polish in the wood, it could be preventing the sealer from drying properly. Leave to dry, but if not dry within a day or so, scrub very well with steel wool and mineral turpentine. If the problem continues, sand down to bare wood.

Why does one litre of Woodoc Sealer/Penetrating Wax not weigh one kg?

This has to do with the density of Woodoc products. Water, which has a density of 1 g/ml, is used as a standard measure of density and one litre of water will weigh one kg. All the Woodoc sealers and waxes have a density of less than 1 g/ml and that is why one litre of Woodoc will not weigh one kg, but slightly less, depending on the densities of the raw materials used.

Can a Woodoc sealer be used over a spirits-based stain?

This can be done, provided that the wood is left for at least two weeks so that the stain can dry completely and the solvent can evaporate completely. Then only can the Woodoc sealer be applied.

Why do the clear sealers not look clear in the tin?

This is caused by the raw materials used in the sealers. The raw materials appear coloured, but the sealers will dry to a clear finish. To test, apply sealer to a clear glass panel and leave to dry.