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GENERAL APPLICATION NOTES
COVERAGE
Coverage varies with the type of wood and condition of the surface. Figure on 500 sq.ft. of coverage per gallon when applied to well sanded face grain pine or oak. Super soft wood in rough cut condition, such as building siding cut from pencil cedar, will soak up the finish at a much faster rate and reduce coverage proportionately.
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APPLICATION
Apply Velvit Oil with a natural bristle brush. If you notice areas where the finish is drying out or soaking in faster than others, apply more finish to these spots. Let it penetrate for half an hour to 45 minutes. Then wipe over the entire surface with a soft lint-free cloth and let dry for 24 hours.
Velvit Oil is also great for wet sanding finish applications. This can be a good idea if you have a surface with lots of open pores or small voids. To wet sand, apply the finish as outlined above, but before wiping with the cloth, sand the surface by hand or with an electric sander. This step produces a natural paste that will fill the open pores and small voids. After sanding, wipe down the surface with a soft cloth and let dry as above.
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DRYING TIME
After 24 hours, the surface will be dry and resistant to alcohol, water, and heat.
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ADVANTAGES
One coat is all that is necessary to protect the wood surface. Multiple coats will give more luster and depth. Two coats are recommended for floors or exterior woodwork. Because the oil penetrates and bonds to the fiber of the wood, rather than merely coating the surface like petroleum-based varnishes, the finish will never crack, chip or peel.
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MAINTENANCE
Pure lemon oil is recommended for occasional polishing. Silicone or wax will make the surface susceptible to water spotting. Products containing these ingredients are also affected by ultraviolet light, which can cause excessive darkening of the finish with age.
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PRECAUTIONS
Place used rags in a closed metal container to avoid combustion. Though Velvit Oil is a vegetable based product, like all fine wood finishes, it contains mineral spirits, a petroleum distillate, to keep it from drying in the can. Provide adequate ventilation when applying the finish. Sensitive persons should avoid prolonged contact with the skin. Close cans by pressing at various points around the edge, rather than hammering. Keep stores cans out of reach of children. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting; call a physician immediately.
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VELVIT OIL FLOOR APPLICATION NOTES
TYPES OF FLOORS
Velvit Oil is a good finish for all types of wood floors. Being made from micro-porous plant based oils and resins the finish penetrates deeply, completely bonding with the fibers. Correct application will result in a great looking floor with lasting durability—alcohol, heat and water resistant.
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SURFACE PREPARATION
Ideally, the surface should be clean, dry, and relatively dust free. The area should also be well ventilated.
Most hardwood floors come pre-sanded. After installation, light sanding with fine grit paper will help remove any irregularities. Tongue-in-groove pine, spruce or fir flooring typically require machine sanding with both coarse and fine grits
in order to eliminate ridges and other imperfections. Following sanding, remove most of the dust with a broom and/or shop vacuum.
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COVERAGE
Coverage varies with the type of wood and condition of the surface. Figure on 350 sq.ft. Of coverage per gallon for the first coat when applied to face grain pine or oak. Coverage should easily increase to 450 sq.ft. on the second coat when applied after the first coat has dried for a minimum of 24 hours.
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BASIC APPLICATION
Apply Velvit Oil to the floor using a natural bristle hand brush or floor brush with extended handle. Allow the oil to remain on the surface for at least 30 minutes to an hour. If the oil starts to dry out in a given area, reapply more oil to keep the surface wet. The will assure proper penetration.
Next, wipe off any excess oil and allow the finish to dry or “cure” for at least 24 hours. 48 hours is even better. At that point, apply a second coat of finish using the same process.
Some people worry about how to wipe the excess oil off the floor without walking on the finish while it’s still “wet”. One simple method is to finish a two to three foot wide strip of floor along the wall farthest from the preferred exit door. Let the oil stand and then wipe off the excess oil. Then simply continue doing strips of floor as you work your way towards the door.
Ideally you will end up with one strip of unfinished flooring along the wall containing your exit. This strip is then finished in additional three foot sections. Start at one end of the last unfinished strip and do a three foot section. Let the oil stand, wipe it down and move on. When you reach the door, move on down to the other end and once again work your way back toward the open doorway. The final portion of the floor can then be done from outside the room.
So long as it was wiped down properly, the first and second coats should dry to a lovely satin finish. If a brighter look is desired, or to achieve a medium to high gloss surface, polish the floor using a polishing pad and a floor buffing machine. This process will also help even out the sheen of a floor that was not wiped properly or where glossy buildups of dried finish are visible.
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WET SANDING APPLICATION
In some parts of the country and among certain floor finishing contractors, “wet sanding” is a time-honored tradition. Velvit Oil is a perfect finish for wet sanding. The process involves putting down the finish and sanding it while still “wet” using 320 to 400 grit wet/dry abrasive sand paper and a hand held electric sander (in the “good old days”, the paper was attached to a sanding block and done by hand, which is still the method preferred by some purists).
As the wet finish is sanded, moving with the grain, a paste forms that naturally fills open pores and minor voids resulting in what some believe to be a smoother, more durable surface than would otherwise be obtained.
Following sanding, more finish is applied to any dry spots and allowed to stand for an additional 30 minutes before wiping down. After 24 to 48 hours drying time, the entire process is repeated, with or without the wet sanding step, depending on personal preference.
Please note that wet sanding is by no means needed to achieve a great looking floor. It is mentioned here for informational purposes only.
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PROFESSIONAL APPLICATION
Apply Velvit Oil to the floor and let stand for at least 30 minutes. Wipe off excess oil and allow the finish to “cure” for at least 24 hours. Sand the floor with a fine screen and tack to remove excess dust. Apply a second coat of Velvit Oil, wipe and allow to dry.
At this point some contractors prefer to sand the floor again with a fine screen and then buff with a high speed polishing pad. Others go directly to the polishing pad and omit screening a second time. Either method works fine so long as the surface finish has been removed. Polishing will then result in a hard, durable surface with a high degree of sheen and color clarity.
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MAINTENANCE
A Velvit Oil floor is almost maintenance-free! A dust mop, soft broom or vacuum cleaner is sufficient for daily care. When necessary, the floor can also be damp mopped using a mild cleaner such as Bi-O-Kleen All-Purpose Cleaner and water.
Years down the road, scratches or wear patterns can be removed by simply reapplying Velvit Oil wherever needed. Brush or wipe on the oil and allow to stand for 30 minutes. Then wipe off excess oil and allow the surface to dry. Should the touch up area look to bright or glossy it is easy to quiet down by buffing over it with a fine (00 to 000) steel wood pad or nylon pad.
The manufacturer suggests avoiding the use of waxes or silicones as they may cause the finish to water spot.
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PRECAUTIONS
Place used rags in a closed metal container to avoid combustion. Though Velvit Oil is a vegetable based product, like all fine wood finishes, it contains mineral spirits, a petroleum distillate, to keep it from drying in the can. Provide adequate ventilation when applying the finish. Sensitive persons should avoid prolonged contact with the skin. Close cans by pressing at various points around the edge, rather than hammering. Keep stores cans out of reach of children. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting; call a physician immediately.
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