Below are project help documents with more information on the post-completion of your project.
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Cleaning the application tools.
Before using a new applicator, be sure that any loose hairs or fibers are removed or cleaned from the applicator. This can be achieved by any of the following methods: Wrap the applicator with masking or painter’s tape and then remove the tape completely, or Put new and unused applicator pads in the dryer for a spin,…
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Old Cans of Waterlox®
If you have old cans of Waterlox products sitting around, there is a good chance that it is still perfectly usable product, regardless of how old it is. The Waterlox products dry and cure through exposure to oxygen and they are fully reacted together to form one uniform liquid, so they will not slowly separate…
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Storage of Waterlox®
For Waterlox® ORIGINAL, VOC COMPLIANT, MARINE and URETHANE products: Keep containers closed when not in use and keep in a cool, dry place (above 32° F). If stored properly, an unopened can has an almost indefinite shelf life. Cold temperatures will not negatively affect Waterlox®, but if it has been chilled or exposed to freezing…
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Care after the final coat is applied.
The first 7 days are the most critical after applying Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes. Please adhere to the following practices: After the last coat is applied, we advise staying off the surface for at least 24 hours. After this time, if you are finishing a floor, it may be used for sock traffic only.…
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Cleaning and Care of Waterlox® finished surfaces
After your surface has dried and cured for at least 7 days, regular cleaning may be performed. To properly care for your surfaces, use only recommended cleaning products and avoid using cleaners/chemicals that can damage your finish. For information on refreshing or recoating a Waterlox® finished surface see our other guide. Recommended Regular Cleaning Products…
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Cleaning and maintenance of a Waterlox® finished countertop.
After the Waterlox® finish has dried and cured for at least 7 days, cleaning may be performed. Cleaning options are as follows: Waterlox® Cleaner Concentrate (following the directions on the label) for heavy-duty, large area cleaning. One quart (32 oz) will make between 8 and 32 gallons of cleaner Waterlox® Wood Surface Cleaner (spray) (following…
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Cleaning and maintenance of a Waterlox® finished floor.
After the Waterlox® finish has dried and cured for at least 7 days, cleaning may be done. For floors, we recommend using a broom, damp mop or microfiber mop on the surface as needed. When a heavier cleaning is required for floors we suggest any of the following methods: Waterlox® Cleaner Concentrate (following the directions…
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Cleaning and maintenance of a Waterlox® TrueTone® finished surface.
After the Waterlox® TrueTone® Buff-In Tung Oil Finish has dried and cured for at least 7 days, cleaning may be performed. Cleaning options are as follows: Waterlox® Cleaner Concentrate (following the directions on the label) for heavy-duty, large area cleaning Waterlox® Wood Surface Cleaner (spray) (following the directions on the label) for light-duty, everyday cleaning…
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Cleaning and maintenance of other projects finished with Waterlox® Original Tung oil finishes.
For other wood finishing projects such as furniture, antiques, jewelry boxes, wood turnings, etc., we recommend: Dusting frequently with a microfiber dust rag/duster Cleaning with a damp cloth Using Waterlox® Cleaner Concentrate (following the directions on the label) for heavy-duty, large area cleaning Using Waterlox® Wood Surface Cleaner for light-duty, everyday cleaning
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How do I get rid of lingering odors and tacky finishes?
All Waterlox coatings will cure through exposure to oxygen. Oxygen molecules seek out uncured sections of oil and undergo a chemical reaction that cross-links the oil and resin together to make a film. When a Waterlox coating is staying soft, tacky, or has a lingering odor, this is a sign that the oxygen is having…
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Quick Solvent Reference Guide
There are 5 times throughout a Waterlox® project where the use of a solvent is recommended: Cleaning the surface before the first coat of a Waterlox® product. Cleaning the surface between coats of Waterlox® products. Cleaning application tools (e.g.: brushes, pads, etc.). Thinning Waterlox® products for specific application techniques (i.e. spraying). Removing an unwanted drip…
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Rug pad recommendation.
We at Waterlox believe that your beautiful wood floors should be highlighted with no rugs (other than at entry doors or high wear areas). If you choose to use rug pad(s), you’ll want to use natural rug pads or those with the least amount or no plastic or rubber. Rubber and plastic both contain plasticizers…
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Waterlox® and Solvents
There are many references to mineral spirits throughout our guides, tips and instructions. Mineral spirits is a solvent that is derived from petroleum and is considered an oil-based solvent (e.g.: dissolves oils and other non-polar substances). This guide helps to identify some common solvents and provides some general guidance on where they may (or may…
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Waterlox® Limited Warranty
If Waterlox® products are proved to be defective within one year of purchase, Waterlox® Coatings Corporation will replace the material or refund the purchase price. Manufacturer’s liability does not include any injury, labor, loss or damage, direct or consequential, arising out of the use or the inability to use the product. Before using, the user…
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Adhesion: Cross-Hatch Test
Adhesion is one of the most critical features of any coating. Adhesion is defined as the action or process of adhering (sticking) to a surface or object. Basically, how well does the new coating stick to either the substrate (the actual wood or other surface you are coating) or the previous layer (a.k.a. intercoat adhesion).…
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Adhesives and Waterlox®
Your project may require the use of liquid adhesives for initial or final assembly. There are a wide variety of adhesives available and it is important to read all instructions and use the proper adhesive for the task at hand. Adhesives before Finishing Many projects are fully assembled and sanded prior to being finished. Using…
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Batching of Waterlox® Products on Large Projects
When finishing larger projects, such as floors, you may need to use multiple cans of product for one coat. When more than one can is needed per coat, it’s always best to blend all necessary cans together in a suitable container (i.e. a 5-gallon bucket) before starting the job. This is called batching and will…
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Bathroom and Kitchen Moisture and Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes.
The origin of our name, Waterlox, stands for “locks out water.” Therefore, we think our Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes are the perfect answer for any and all wood finishing project(s). When you add to that your plans to finish a known water-related area like a bathroom or kitchen, we think we should be the…
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Do I really need the Marine Sealer?
One of the major challenges with exterior film forming coatings is that when they tend to fail, they will start to crack, chip and peel off the surface leaving the wood exposed. The Waterlox MARINE Sealer penetrates into the wood and chemically bonds with the MARINE Finishes to create a single film layer that is…
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I Saw Something On the Internet…
Waterlox products have been around for over 110 years and they have been used by thousands of wood enthusiasts on thousands of different projects throughout those years. While most enthusiasts have been very pleased with their results and have happily shared their experiences on forums and in videos, they can sometimes create confusion for other…
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Identifying Your Existing Finish
If you are considering refinishing or refreshing an existing finish with Waterlox products, it helps to know what type of finish is currently on the surface. If you were the one who finished it previously or you have good notes from the previous owner, then you can move right on to our Quick Guide: Waterlox…
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Lifespan and Recoating Frequency of Waterlox® Products
In general, all Waterlox products are permanent coatings. This means that they will not disappear on their own. With wear and tear, eventually all coatings will disappear and require some form of maintenance in their lifetimes. Interior Projects All of our interior products will produce long-lasting results. On projects like ceiling beams, fine/decorative furniture or…
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Maintenance of Waterlox Original Marine Finish outdoors.
Our Marine finishing system is recommended for use outdoors in areas that have direct UV exposure. As the gloss begins to fade on the Marine Finish, this is the key to knowing that its time to re-coat. For the grey/darkened areas, you’ll want to wipe them with Mineral Spirits to determine if they turn black…
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Mold and Mildew and Waterlox
Waterlox products do not contain any mold or mildew killing/controlling additives. If you are using our finishes in mildew prone areas (dark and damp), you may want to consider some mold/mildew prevention steps. Notable areas of concern would be some porch ceilings, exposed but shady areas on outdoor surfaces, underside of outdoor furniture, etc. Starting…
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Number of Coats for Your Project
When finishing a project and selecting a finish, one important factor is the number of coats required to complete the project. The important thing to remember is that the number of coats is only half of the actual equation when it comes to finishing a project. The other half of that equation is spread rate.…
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Outdoor Projects in Direct Sunlight
Clear wood finishes that protect outdoor surfaces with direct sun exposure face a very difficult task. The regular and chronic UV exposure and expansion and contraction of wood surfaces as the seasons and weather change, create a very difficult environment for coatings. Waterlox does offer the MARINE and PURE Tung Oil product lines that can work on…
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Pet accident fix on a Waterlox Original Tung oil finished surface.
To fix a pet accident, you will first need to determine if the accident has stained the finish coat(s) or stained the wood beneath the finish. By sanding the Waterlox finish, you can determine which it is. If the accident stained or changed the Waterlox, you will have to sand through the layers of Waterlox…
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Pet urine and saliva and Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes.
Generally speaking, properly finished wood with Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes will stand up to casual pet accidents (e.g. wiped up immediately or soon after the accident occurs); however, we are unaware of any clear wood finish that will stand up to chronic accidents. Chronic accidents are those left unattended for longer periods of time…
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Previously Finished with Non-Waterlox Products
In general, there are two types of finishes, film-formers and penetrating oils. Film-forming finishes tend to dry into clear, hard films regardless of the substrate that they are applied. Penetrating oils tend to dry slowly and into soft, cloudy films when applied to a non-porous surface (like glass) and work best when they can penetrate…
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Quick Adhesion Test: Cross-Scribe
The ideal method for adhesion testing is the Cross Hatch Test as described in our Adhesion: Cross Hatch-Test guide. Cutting a small grid can be a little challenging, so the use of an X pattern can be a quick way to check coating adhesion. The Test Required Items Specimen to be tested – Properly applied…
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Quick Guide: Waterlox® and Other Finishes
This is a general reference guide for using Waterlox products in conjunction with other types of finishes. There are always some exceptions and proper testing should always be done when combining different brands and types of finishes. See the “Mixing and Matching” section in the Types of Finishes guide for more information about testing for…
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Rain or dew and Waterlox.
Q: “My project is wet from rain or dew, can I recoat?” A: For projects either around water or outdoors in the elements that can produce moisture, dew and/or rain, it is important that the project be completely dry prior to coating. Drying of the film on the surface is not our major concern; it’s…
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Re-coating over top of a Waterlox Tung oil finish.
If for some reason it becomes necessary to re-coat a Waterlox Original Tung oil finished surface with another type of coating, you can apply a surface finish over top of our Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes, keeping the following details in mind. If the last coat applied was our Waterlox Original Sealer & Semi-Gloss Finish,…
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Refreshing or Recoating a Waterlox® Finished Surface
As with any working surface, a Waterlox® surface will get worn down over time. One of the advantages of Waterlox® products is that they still maintain a high level of protection even when worn. However, when your surface needs to be refreshed, it can easily be done with a few simple steps. Clean the surface…
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Removal of magic marker.
Other than sanding and refinishing, surfaces finished with Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes that are marked on at a later date with Magic / Permanent Marker may be able to be cleaned up with Rubbing Alcohol. Rubbing alcohol may dull the finish in the spot being spot cleaned; however, it will be less noticeable than…
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Scuffing and Waterlox®.
One of Waterlox®’s product performance characteristics certainly does not include “scratching or scuffing easily”. Often times when customers call us to report this perceived “lack” of performance; we try to learn what the spread rate of the material was when the finish was applied and what methods of application were used. A properly finished surface with…
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Tips for a Smoother Final Finish
If you are having an issue getting the final finish to lay down just right, these tips can help you finish your project and make it the envy of your friends and neighbors. There are myriad causes for poor appearance ranging from dust, wood fibers, rushed application, bugs, bubbles, streaks, etc., but the cure is…
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Waterlox® UNIVERSAL Tung Oil Sealer (UTOS) Advantages
Traditional Waterlox® systems began with a sealer, namely, Waterlox® ORIGINAL Sealer & Semi-Gloss Finish or Waterlox® MARINE Sealer. Waterlox® developed a new product aimed at simplifying and speeding up the application process, UNIVERSAL Tung Oil Sealer (UTOS). UTOS provides excellent protection, durability and appearance properties that Waterlox® products are known for along with some other advantages.…
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Wax and Waterlox®
Wax is very prevalent in the wood finishing world. It is more common in wood working or smaller projects and becoming less common on floors or other areas, but is still encountered regularly. The three places where you may encounter wax would be as a key ingredient in the finish you are using, as an…
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Wood Surface Rejuvenators and Refreshers
There are a variety of products available that claim to be furniture restorers, rejuvenators or refreshers. Still other names are marketed as being quick solutions to liven up a wooden surface, remove scratches, repair color, etc. What are they? There are lots of variations, blends, secret ingredients and mysteries around these products; however, the main…
