Special
Who has an oil which can be finished in one coat?
OIL MAKERS CONTINUE TO INNOVATE A FINISH IN A SINGLE WORK SESSION IS STILL A MAJOR ASSET The chemical industry is in a state of constant flux. We’ve often illustrated that by pointing out the vast developments in the range of adhesives. In the world of parquet adhesives alone we see all sorts of diverse technology which intertwines to form the hybrid solutions which everyone talks about. The same goes for finishes. Both oils and lacquers continue to develop on their own, but they meet each other occasionally in shared applications. One of the movements in the oil industry manifests itself in its attention for single coat products.
Applying oil It is extremely easy to apply an oil finish, even though the process involves a few distinct phases which should each be carried out meticulously.
Application
solutions. It’s entirely logical that for renovation the floor will have to be sandpapered, but that is not the case with an oil finish. The application with most makers is virtually identical. The oil acts as a saturation. This gives the floor all the features of an oiled floor, including the visual ones. The oil should be applied in a professional manner. In this context it is also possibly even more important for the oil to be polished professionally and for surplus oil to be removed. In most cases it will be necessary to allow for a drying time (depending on the producer). According to a certain procedure, and after the drying time, a lacquer is applied in the second instance as the final finish. Obviously, the oil and lacquer used are completely in harmony with each other. Once the coat of lacquer is applied, the floor has the assets of a lacquered floor, but still the look of oiled parquet.
What’s on the market ? Blanchon
Oil is applied using a roller with short hair. It is applied in a thick coat and should be left to soak in for about one hour. It must not dry on the surface. If that does happen, surplus oil should be removed using a rubber mop after a waiting time of one hour. The floor can also be wrung dry using a soft cotton cloth.
Polishing The floor surface is now polished using a rotary disc fitted with a white pad. You polish the floor surface until it is nice and smooth. You should leave the floor to dry for 48 hours before walking on it. The floor may not be cleaned using water for at least a week after the oil treatment. The floor may not be covered under any circumstances.
In one work session? A lacquer finish involves more than one coat with the necessary drying time in each case. In the case of production lines with UV drying, there is even often talk of seven thin coats of lacquer. By contrast, oil lends itself to a finish in just one coat. Indeed, oil can be applied without streaks, something which isn’t so easy with coats of lacquer. The protection is also complete when the saturation is complete. A vast majority of oils also allow for a finish in a single work session. The exceptions are if the maker explicitly promotes a multicoated system (typical of the concept) or if there is talk of an extremely absorbent wood whereby a second or even a third coat is required. We can deduce that the makers’ efforts are geared to one solid protective coat from the fact that the time between coats should NOT be too long. The previous coat should not be completely dry so that the next coat intertwines with the previous one.
One coat of oil and then lacquers More and more producers are offering an oil/lacquer system as the ultimate finish for parquet and wooden floors. It’s a ‘hybrid’ solution, that’s for sure. Indeed, this means combining the best features of both
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Floor Forum International 110
The high solid hard wax oil Solid Oil impregnates, colours, and protects wood in a single operation. Blanchon Hard Wax Oil offers nothing but benefits for both floor fitters and end users. The easy application is one thing, but the simple and speedy maintenance is another asset. Moreover, Blanchon hard wax oil also offers endless application options for finishes (tints, wood tones, colour nuances, and such like). In ‘natural silk matt’ and ‘natural ultra-matt’ Blanchon presents firstly Easy Oil™, which yields a very attractive result in two coats without sandpapering. Apart from the solid traditional oil Easy Oil™, Blanchon also presents its solid hard wax oil High Solid. This hard wax oil impregnates, colours, and protects parquet floors in one single operation. The hard wax oil feeds the wood and protects it deep down. Thanks to the composition of the hard wax oil, which is very rich in natural and renewable raw materials, it dries rapidly and with hardly any bad smells. As of this year, Blanchon offers 41 colours (one of which is metal colour). Due to the addition of a pre-dosed hardener
