• The best operating temperature for applying Outdoor Defense Oil is above 50°F ( 10°C ).
• Be sure the surface of your project is free of dust, debris, or grime.
• Check to see if the surface is porous. (Outdoor Defense Oil works by absorbing into the material and filling the open pores. Therefore, if your material is not porous, it will not accept ODO. To test if your surface is porous or not, place a small amount of water on the surface. If the water absorbs, it is porous. If it does not and beads on the surface, you may need to sand and/or strip the surface.)
• If you are sanding your surface, we recommend not going above 220 grit sandpaper. Too high of a sandpaper grit will “polish” the surface, hindering proper absorption of ODO.
• If stripping your surface is needed, we recommend using Soy Gel: Paint and Urethane Stripper.
• We recommend using water or alcohol-based stains on the wood before the ODO is applied. Most oil-based stains should be avoided as they tend to seal the wood and prevent absorption of ODO. Another option is to use our Dark Half on the surface for the initial coat(s) then apply ODO for the remainder of the project.
• DO NOT use a wood conditioner. This will seal the wood and prevent the tung oil from absorbing.
• NOTE: Only very old, dry wood or concrete tend to use unthinned Pure Tung Oil.
• You may need to thin your ODO depending on the type of wood you are using it on. Extremely dense woods such as teak, ipe, etc may require thinning ODO with more solvent (up to 2 parts solvent to 1 part tung oil. Outdoor Defense Oil is already at a 1 to 1 ratio of solvent to tung oil) You can use Citrus Solvent as a natural, food contact safe thinner!

When applying Outdoor Defense Oil (ODO), here’s a handy thing to remember: Apply, Absorb, Repeat or Remove

For the best results, you want to saturate the material with the tung oil to the point where a majority of the surface is no longer absorbing the oil. This will look like puddles on the surface even after waiting 40 minutes. Just like a sponge, the wood (or other porous surfaces) will only absorb so much oil before it can’t anymore. This saturation is achieved by doing multiple coats.

You can apply ODO with a brush, rag, roller, or even a pump sprayer depending on your project and needs. We recommend brushes and/or foam rollers for most projects.

1. Apply a generous first coat.
2. Let the tung oil absorb into the surface, waiting if needed, up to 40 minutes.
3. Apply another coat, let it absorb, and repeat the previous steps.
4. Continue this process until you reach the desired amount of coats or have fully saturated the wood. You can tell the wood is saturated when the oil puddles on the surface and no longer absorbs oil across a majority of the surface. To be sure, wait 40 minutes. If the oil is still puddling, then you will know the surface is saturated.
5. Taking a clean rag or cloth, remove any excess tung oil that is puddling or pooling on the surface.
6. Hang those oil-soaked rags outdoors to dry. DO NOT pile the rags or put them in a container.

For the best finish, we recommend letting this application rest and settle overnight. The following day, apply one or two more coats of ODO to the surface of your project, following the same steps outlined above.

Outdoor Defense Oil (ODO) does not contain any additives to speed the drying time process, such as heavy metallic dryers. Because of this, it is not considered fast-drying oil and can take up to 30 days to completely/thoroughly cure by its natural polymerization process. Provided below are some guidelines to follow during the curing phase.

• ODO cures best in warm, well-ventilated places. The warmer and more ventilated the area, the faster it will cure.
• Placing objects on the surface will “suffocate” and prevent the tung oil from curing properly. If there is no airflow between the surface and the object, it should be removed until the curing is complete (30 days).
• During the first 7-15 days of curing, you can use the surface. However, you will want to avoid getting it dirty or allowing liquids to puddle on the surface.
• As the tung oil cures, its durability and resistance to liquids and dirt will also increase. The first 7-15 days is when the oil is at its freshest and weakest state. After that point, increased regular use of the surface can take place.
• As ODO cures, it slightly expands and may push fresh oil back to the surface. Check for oil that may be seeping to the surface and remove it, if found, with a rag.

The beautiful thing about an Outdoor Defense Oil finish is that the maintenance of it is easy. We recommend cleaning the surface with mild soap and hot water. Avoid using harsh chemicals, acids, or strong solvents to clean the surface.

Maintenance coats are on an as-need basis. Outdoor projects may require more maintenance than indoor. Heavily used areas can be expected to require more maintenance than lightly used areas. Typically, surfaces that need maintenance have a very dry, or lackluster appearance compared to when the finish was originally applied.

When doing a maintenance coat you do not need to sand the surface again. Here is what we recommend:

1. Make sure the surface is clean and free of dust or debris.
2. Make a 2 to 1 ratio of solvent to tung oil (2 parts solvent, 1 part tung oil). This thinned mixture can easily find any open pores and fill them.
3. Thinly apply this mixture using a clean cloth. Simply wipe it onto the surface, no need to lather it on.
4. Wipe up any excess oil that may be on the surface with a clean, lint-free rag or cloth.
5. Allow this thin coat to cure for 24 hours.
6. Hang oil-soaked rags outdoors to dry.
7. Go back to enjoying the surface like normal!

• Do not apply or leave fresh tung oil on surface in direct sunlight. This will flash cure it on the surface and will turn white.
• Do not sand between coats of tung oil. This is an application technique for tung oil varnishes, not pure tung oil.
• Do not use Outdoor Defense Oil over oil based sealers, stains, and finishes.
• We recommend using a water based stain to change color of wood, before tung oil is applied, if color other than that provided by pure tung oil is desired. For a darker, all natural, tung oil finish check out our Dark Tung Oil and Dark Half products.
• Outdoor Defense Oil has already been thinned. Thinners can accelerate the drying process and greatly improve the penetration of the tung oil.
• Do not use the “Green” thinners now being sold. They contain water and will not mix with the oil.
• Remember by adding petroleum mineral spirits or other thinners, the oil may become toxic with these substances mixed into it, although the finish produced is not toxic because the thinners evaporate.
• The number of coats of oil to be applied will be determined by the intended use of the piece of wood. One to two coats are enough for decorative work, paneling and molding. For surfaces that receive moderate to heavy use or handling need a minimum of three and on up to six coats for maximum protection.
• Apply till the surface reaches the saturation point. This will be evident as the surface will not absorb more oil.
• Renewal and/or maintenance coats are thinly applied with lint free cloths (old bed sheets work well) or old t-shirt material on an as need be basis. A two parts solvent to one part tung oil mixture is recommended for maintenance coats.
• Do not get hung up on the number of coats, let the wood tell you when it has reached its maximum saturation.
• Outdoor Defense Oil will be in the wood up to the surface not on the wood like varnish or Polyurethane top coat. The end result is more like seasoning a cast iron pan. This product will give you a surface that will stand up to vigorous use and spills: water will bead on the surface.
• After the tung oil as completely cured (30 days) cleaning of the surface can be done using hot water and mild soap, such as dish soap. Avoid using hard chemicals or acids for cleaning.

Outdoor Defense Oil can last with ease for multiple years on the shelf. Here are some guidelines to help you store it properly so it can be used for your next project.

• Make sure the lid on the Outdoor Defense Oil packaging is tightly screwed on. This will keep air exchange from happening in the container.
• Store the bottle in a dry, moderate temperature environment. A place where it won’t freeze or become excessively hot. Freezing of the oil will make the natural fats separate from the oil. Excessive heat can cook the oil to the point where it cures in the bottle.

SDS Sheet