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maintenance FAQS

We make it easy to use the CUTEK® wood protection system at each step with our friendly, practical advice and support. Get the best from CUTEK® with our help. Our expert team is on-hand to provide technical support and clear, easy to understand step-by-step instructions. Have a question about the application process, maintenance, or what CUTEK® product is best for you? Explore our resources here or contact us. We’re here to help make using CUTEK® easy.

how long can i store CUTEK® Extreme for?

CUTEK® Extreme 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). Minimizing the air space in the can will also increase the storage life of the product.

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

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

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.

Yes. CUTEK® Extreme diffuses deeply into wood, protecting it from the inside out. CUTEK® Extreme stays permanently mobile inside the wood to repel and displace moisture. With each additional coat of CUTEK® Extreme, this protection increases. This means that if you continue to maintain your wood with CUTEK® Extreme, the better protected against water that wood will be.

  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. An easy test to use to see if it is time for a another coat is to put a tissue on your wood. If the tissue remains dry, you are able to do another coat. If the tissue becomes stained or wet in any way, you will need to wait until a tissue would remain dry.
  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.

Wood protected with clear CUTEK® Extreme will naturally lighten/silver/gray with exposure to sunlight. Unless you want a clear finish that will lighten/silver/gray off, it is important to mix in a CUTEK® Colortone to your CUTEK® Extreme oil before use. Adding CUTEK® Colortones will provide UV color protection and slows the lightening/silvering process.

NOTE: CUTEK® Extreme diffuses deeply into your wood and will continue to provide moisture protection and improve dimensional stability even if a CUTEK® Colortone is not added, and your wood becomes weathered and grayed. To maintain your wood’s natural color for longer, choose a CUTEK® Colortone similar to the natural color of your wood. Suggested CUTEK® Colortones that match the natural hue of your wood can be found on our Colortone product page. Colortones can also help alter your wood’s color if required (e.g. make your wood look lighter or darker than its natural state).

Always use a PRE-MIXED SAMPLE to test if your chosen Colortone is right for your project.

NOTE: CUTEK® is unable to offer any specific performance warranties in relation to color retention for CUTEK® products because of many variables related to the weathering process including but not limited to: the age and porosity of the wood, species, situation, design and structure, aspect, differing exposure to the weather and adequacy of preparation.

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 woods:

WordPress Table

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 40°F (5°C). 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 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.

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 spirits or turpentine, if possible, and work the stain with this mixture.