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Dear Folks, I hope this note finds you well. It is a beautiful spring and it is the best time to re-oil the exterior of your door(s) if they are sealed with my varnish/oil. The primary villain of door finish deterioration is ultraviolet light. By re-oiling your door once a year you will prevent the "aging" of the doors surface. This is what I recommend to restore the exterior of you door: Wash or dust the exterior surface 24hrs before you will apply the oil. Purchase a quart or more of Cabots Australian Timber Oil Add 1/2 pint of Tung Oil per quart If you wish (but it is NOT necessary) you may add 1/2 pt (per qt of oil) of oil based exterior spar varnish. (i.e. Mc Closky's Man-0-war spar varnish) Thin mixture, if necessary, to a watery consistency with common mineral spirits It is NOT necessary to remove door but place plastic or cloth tarp under area where oil is to be oiled With a brush ......... apply liberal amounts of oil to exterior view of door. No brushing direction is necessary ........ just get the wood wet with the oil and allow it to soak into surface and refresh any dry spots where oil has soaked in. Keep surface wet for 30 to 45 mins. If surface becomes tacky or sticky ...... simply apply more oil and it will become viscous. Take soft, lint free, cloths and wipe the excess oil off of the surface of the door. Check back several times for "bleed out" spots and wipe them off. If you wish to give it a second coat, it is very important to wait at least 48 hrs before repeating the process. Please let me know if you have any questions
Fine Woodworking August 2005
.......... Brian |