CUTEK® Extreme

Step 2   Protect

Before you protect:

Before you begin, note the hazards and precautions on this website and the can labelling, and ensure that you use the correct safety equipment as detailed in the Safety Data Sheet.

Weather:

Once applied, CUTEK® Extreme generally requires 3-5 days of warm, dry and sunny conditions after coating to facilitate full penetration/diffusion (drying) and an even colour finish; so check your weather forecast before coating.

CUTEK® Colourtone:

Clear, un-tinted CUTEK® Extreme will allow your wood to naturally lighten/silver/grey when exposed to sunlight while retaining its protection characteristics. Unless you want a clear finish that will naturally lighten/silver/grey off, it is important to mix in 1 CUTEK® Colourtone per 3.6L (0.95 US gal) of CUTEK® Extreme before use. Adding a CUTEK® Colourtone provides UV colour protection and slows the lightening/silvering process.

To choose which CUTEK® Colourtone suits your wood and/or project, visit our Colourtone page.

Note: CUTEK® Extreme diffuses deeply into your wood and will continue to provide moisture protection and improve dimensional stability even if a CUTEK® Colourtone is not added and your wood becomes weathered and greyed.

Application:

After preparing your wood, it will need to be completely dry prior to coating with CUTEK® Extreme. It is very important that your wood is clean, non-greasy and dry with a moisture content of less than 17%. It is also very important that the surface of the wood is free from chemical residues and is not exposed to environmental contaminants such as dusts while CUTEK® Extreme is drying.

Stir the CUTEK® Extreme oil thoroughly (with the added CUTEK® Colourtone if desired) before and during use. Make sure you stir from the bottom of the can to ensure active ingredients are properly mixed throughout the oil.

Apply thin, even coats with a brush, or paint pad applicator. CUTEK® Extreme works best when applied as a THIN COAT – two or three thin coats on finished wood are much better than one or two thick coats. For best results, ONE coat of CUTEK® Extreme should be applied to all faces of the wood prior to installing, with a SECOND coat applied to the top surface once the first coat has completely penetrated/diffused (dried).

If applying post-construction, apply two thin coats to all accessible wood surfaces, ensuring the first coat has completely penetrated/diffused (dried) before applying the second coat.

Drying time:

Unlike traditional wood coatings, CUTEK® Extreme needs to penetrate/diffuse deeply into your wood. After coating, CUTEK® Extreme will slowly migrate into your wood to repel moisture, improve dimensional stability and lengthen the service life of your wood. This penetration/diffusion process varies in time for many reasons including differences in wood type (species, density, porosity, age of wood and residual moisture content) as well as environmental factors (temperature, humidity, weather).

Sometimes this drying process can take several days to complete. You will know when your wood is ready for the second coat of CUTEK® Extreme when it is completely dry and non-greasy. To test: press a tissue or rag on the wood and if there is no transfer it is dry. Please note the second coat of CUTEK® Extreme will take longer to migrate into your wood than the first coat.

Clean Up:

Equipment (including brushes) may be cleaned with CUTEK® Quickclean, mineral spirits or soap and water. If not correctly cleaned or disposed of, oily rags and other oily materials may cause combustion fires. After use you MUST immediately spread out all oily material outside to dry, by flattening them out to their full size in an airy spot at a temperature above 4ºC (39ºF), or wash them thoroughly with water and detergent and rinse. Remove all oil from all clothes, tools, rags and any other materials contacted during use or as a result of an accidental spill. Ensure wash water is disposed in accordance with local regulations.

These figures represent typical averages for common decking and cladding wood species and are to be used as a guideline only.

Maintenance

With CUTEK® Extreme, maintenance is simple, fast, and cost effective. CUTEK® Extreme will not crack, peel or split, and your wood can be easily rejuvenated or restored using our Prepare and Protect system – no need to sand or strip.

CUTEK® Extreme should be reapplied when the wood is no longer beading water, or as frequently as necessary to retain the natural beauty and colour of the wood.

Due to the cumulative effect of CUTEK® Extreme, generally each maintenance coat will use less oil than the previous coat. As the protective properties build up inside the wood, the time between when recoats are required can extend.

Typically, horizontal exterior wood surfaces exposed to full weather such as pool decks and handrails will require recoating more frequently (initially after 6-12 months), while other surfaces such as vertical rough-sawn cladding will need recoating less often.

• Are CUTEK® oils safe for playgrounds and play equipment?
  Yes. CUTEK® oils are safe and effective for timber playgrounds and play equipment.

  As a penetrative oil, once the CUTEK® has fully penetrated into the timber, it is unlikely to leave residue when touched or brushed against.
• HOW LONG CAN I STORE CUTEK® EXTREME FOR?

  CUTEK® oils can be stored for one year or more and reused for the next coating season, when stored correctly. To store correctly, store in a cool, dry area out of direct sunlight; lid must be airtight. If the lid has been damaged, the remaining contents may be tipped into another compatible container (HDPE or Lined metal containers). Minimising the air space in the can will also increase the storage life of the product.

  If the oil has been tinted with a CUTEK® Colourtone, the colour may settle out and be difficult to stir in again if some time has passed. Use caution when mixing new and old CUTEK® Oils that have been coloured with a CUTEK® Colourtone; there may be some discrepancies in colour due to storage.

• HOW LONG CAN I STORE CUTEK® COLOURTONES FOR?

  After use, CUTEK® Colourtones generally do not require storing because they are a one-use product. If the Colourtone can contents have solidified, do not use the Colourtone. Instead, dispose of the can and contents according to local regulations.

• HOW LONG CAN I STORE CUTEK® Wood Reviver/CUTEK® Quickclean/CUTEK® Wood Stripper FOR?

  CUTEK® Wood Reviver, CUTEK® Quickclean and CUTEK® Wood Stripper can be stored for many years after initial use. To store correctly, store in a cool, dry area out of direct sunlight; lid must be airtight. Keep from freezing.

• What should be avoided when planning to coat wood with CUTEK® Extreme?
  1. Wet wood, or wood with a high moisture content: Your wood should contain a maximum moisture content of 17%, as anything higher can significantly delay the drying process. If the moisture content is above 17%, CUTEK® Extreme may sit on the surface and eventually go tacky without penetrating properly.
  2. Too many coats too soon: The first application of CUTEK® Extreme needs to completely diffuse and dry before the next coat is applied.
  3. Existing oil, stain or paint on the surface of your wood: Existing film coatings act as a barrier to CUTEK® Extreme‘s penetration. Old coatings must be fully removed by sanding and/or chemical stripping prior to applying CUTEK® Extreme.
  4. Cold weather: CUTEK® Extreme should not be applied below 10° C (50° F).  In cold weather CUTEK® Extreme will become thicker and may result in too much oil being applied.  When applying in cooler climates, keep the oil in a warm spot until ready to apply to make it thinner and enhance penetration.
  5. Contamination: It is very important to ensure that wood surfaces to be coated with CUTEK® Extreme are free from chemical residues and are not exposed to environmental contaminants such as dusts while the applied oil is drying.  It is possible that contact with highly alkaline contaminants such as cement/fertilizer/other dusts or poorly rinsed cleaners may lead to chemical staining.
• What is the average coverage rate when using CUTEK® Extreme?

  CUTEK® Extreme‘s coverage will be different depending on the density and condition of the wood you are intending to coat. Please see below for a guide on the coverage rate of different wood substrates:

  Coverage
  New Wood (sanded)	10–20 m2/L     400-800 ft²/gal
  Old restored wood (sanded)	6–8.5 m2/L       250-350 ft²/gal
  New wood (rough sawn)	6-7.5 m2/L        250-300 ft²/gal
  Old restored wood (rough sawn)	3.5–6 m2/L       150-250 ft²/gal
  Shingles and shakes	2–5 m2/L            84-212 ft²/gal

  NOTE: These figures represent typical averages for common decking and cladding wood species and are to be used as a guideline only.

• Can I apply CUTEK® Extreme without sanding between coats?

  CUTEK® Extreme does not behave like traditional film forming coatings, meaning there is no need to sand between coats, unless there is a need to fix some defect in the wood substrate.

• Can I apply CUTEK® Extreme on hot sunny days?

  Yes. Unlike many wood coatings, CUTEK® Extreme performs well in dry, hot conditions. In fact, heat and ventilation greatly assist the deep diffusion of CUTEK® Extreme into the wood.

• Why do I have to wait between coats?

  CUTEK® Extreme must be allowed to diffuse into the wood and fully cure between coats. If it is not fully dried, and another coat is applied the drying time of the second coat may be extended for much longer than it needs to be.

  The speed of the drying process varies according to many different factors such as wood species, density, porosity, residual moisture content and temperature.  Pre-coated wood will always dry faster if stacked outside.

• How long does it take for CUTEK® Extreme to dry?

  Unlike traditional wood coatings, CUTEK® Extreme needs to penetrate/diffuse deeply into your wood. After coating, CUTEK® Extreme will slowly migrate into your wood to repel and displace moisture, improve dimensional stability and lengthen the service life of your wood. This penetration/diffusion process varies in time for many reasons including differences in wood type (species, density, porosity, age of wood and residual moisture content) as well as environmental factors (temperature, humidity, weather). Sometimes this drying process can take several days to complete. You will know when your wood is ready for an additional coat of CUTEK® Extreme when it is completely dry and non-greasy. Please note the second coat of CUTEK® Extreme will take longer to migrate into your wood than the first coat.

  Pre-coated wood will always dry faster if stacked outside.

• I have just applied CUTEK® Extreme and it is taking a long time to dry. Why is this?

  CUTEK® Extreme works by deeply diffusing into the wood and it won’t dry on the surface until this process has been fully completed. The drying process varies in time according to many different factors such as wood species, density, porosity, residual moisture content and temperature, humidity etc.

  To help ensure your CUTEK® Extreme dries as quickly as possible, make sure you avoid:

  • Wet wood, or wood with a high moisture content. Your wood should contain a maximum moisture content of 17%, as anything higher can significantly delay the drying process. If this happens, CUTEK® Extreme may sit on the surface and eventually go tacky without penetrating properly.
  • Cold weather. You should not apply CUTEK® Extreme if it is below 5°C (40°F). In cold weather CUTEK® Extreme will become thicker and therefore too much oil is applied. Keep oil warm before application to make it thinner and to enhance penetration. Thin coats are recommended.
  • Too many coats too soon. The first application of CUTEK® Extreme needs to completely diffuse and dry fully before the next coat is applied.
  • Existing oil, stain or paint on the surface. Existing film coats act as a barrier to CUTEK® Extreme‘s penetration. Old coatings must be fully removed by sanding and/or chemical stripping prior to applying CUTEK® Extreme.

  For best results, always allow CUTEK® Extreme to completely diffuse before adding an additional coat or using. If you cannot wait, rag off the excess material on the surface and the coating will dry on top at a much faster rate.

• What do I use to clean up a CUTEK® Extreme spill?

  Time is of the essence.  For best results clean up the excess oil with rags and then work the stain with a CUTEK® Quickclean and water mixture to remove as much of the spill as possible.  If CUTEK® Quickclean is not available, then mix dishwashing liquid into warm water with some mineral spirts or turpentine, if possible, and work the stain with this mixture.

English

• Fact Sheet
• Safety Data Sheet
• Technical Data Sheet

French

• Fiche Decriptive
• Fiches de Données de Sécurité
• Fiche Technique