Together with René Tomczak, Woca’s Vice President Sales Europe, Central & South America, Africa and Middle East with WOCA Denmark A/S and CEO/ Geschäftsführer WOCA Deutschland GmbH, we look at one of the most innovative Woca oil products, Diamond Oil Active, for indoor wood treatment. We also briefly discuss its counterpart for usage outside, Woca Exterior Oil, and Woca’s maintenance products.

Hyper cross-linking technology
Diamond Oil Active’s description makes clear this is a product that fits the Woca philosophy to a T. It is a waterbased, 1K VOC-free oil, made from natural and high quality materials. It assures minimal waste, is very easy to work with and offers extreme durability and resistance to scratches and marks. Furthermore, there is a remarkable resistance to liquids such as water, coffee, tea and red wine. What mainly catches the eye, though, it is that made using Woca’s unique hyper cross-linking technology.

“This technology makes the oil molecules form billions of extra connections, thus intensifying its protective powers, making the floor highly water and dirt repellent. Other results are fast drying times, a very stable end result and a comfortable, non-slip surface of the wooden floor”, Mr. Tomczak explains. “This means you can finish projects very fast, with a 1K product that is as potent as when you would be using 2K. In comparison with other manufacturers, you will also notice Woca doesn’t use an extra hardener. It is even more green because there is no VOC and virtually no waste. In fact, Diamon Oil Active is the best possible illustration of our philosophy: if you work with Woca, you work sustainable, green and safe, both in the interior and the exterior. With as added benefit: even though this is a revolutionary and very powerful green product, pricewise it remains very acceptable to the market!”

The low-odour Diamond Oil Active is offered in a whole range of different colours, in containers of 1 and 2.5 litres. The oil has a dry matter content of approximately 99% and is suitable for machine-application when oiling untreated, new or newly-sanded wooden surfaces in all species of wood. It is not only used for oiling wooden floors, but is also suited for tabeltops and wooden furniture.

How to apply
Earlier on we mentioned that the application is very easy and fast. Still, as with all oil products a number of essential steps must be taken.
“You are working with wood, so it is important that you create the best possible application conditions”, Mr. Tomczak explains. “Never forget that the product, the room and the floor should be at a temperature between 15°C and 30°C, that the air humidity should be around 50 % and that the wood humidity must not exceed 12 %. Also ventilate the room well, to ensure optimal evaporation and drying time. The wood itself must be free of dirt, grease, wax and sanding residue and previously treated surfaces should be sanded down to bare wood with a grit 100 to 120. Furthermore you must keep in mind to vacuum thoroughly and wash the surface of the wood. A good product for this is Woca Intensive Wood Cleaner. And another piece of advice: always test on a less visible spot to check the compatibility of the surface with the product.”

For the application of the oil, there are also a number of steps to keep in mind: “Before the application, shake the container of Diamond Oil Active thoroughly, both before and during use. Mix containers with different batch numbers to avoid colour mismatch and apply the oil using a short-bristled paint roller in an even coat.”

“Leave the oil to be absorbed for 10 to 15 minutes. If the oil soaks quickly into the wood, apply more oil. Polish the oil into the wood until the surface appears saturated. Use a buffing machine for large areas and a manual polishing cloth/pad for small areas. Remove excess oil with dry, lint-free cotton cloths or pads until the surface no longer appears wet and if an extra-attractive finish and resistance is desired, the floor can be repolished with 1 dl Diamond Oil Active per 10 m² within 8 to 10 hours hours of the first application. The floor can be used with caution after 24 hours.”

Importance of outdoor maintenance
Diamond Oil Active is all about indoor use, but it goes without saying that it also has a counterpart for outdoor use: Woca Exterior Oil. It is not exactly the right time of the year to go into further detail about this oil, but our interlocutor does have a number of tips for the maintenance of outdoor terraces.

“Woca Exterior Oil is remarkably similar to Diamond Oil Active. It is a comparable solution, waterbased and with the same focus on simplicity and safety. In a later edition, we can explain this product in more detail, as this is more relevant to present in spring”, concludes René Tomczak, who at the same time emphasizes that now, however, is the perfect time to prepare terraces for the winter, leading to an extra source of income for the installer. “Cleaning and protecting a terrace before the winter season is always a good idea. The Woca general recommendation is simply that you must never forget to do proper maintenance before the winter, to save time when you want to oil the following spring. I invite all of you to take a look at our website, in order to acquaint yourselves with the different available products. You will find that also here Woca offers the right solutions, using the same technical procedures as with the different oils.”

More information: www.wocadenmark.com