Wood oiling

How to prepare a wooden surface before applying oil

Wood products are oiled to protect the wood and bring out the natural surface texture. It gives wooden surfaces a natural shine and texture, highlights the grain. Wood oiling is widely used in a variety of high-end finishes, such as tabletop care, furniture, refinishing kitchen worktops and refinishing old surfaces.

Care should be taken to ensure that the wood is properly sanded before and after oiling. Mirka offers various sanding solutions to prepare the wood before oiling.

• Before oiling, the wood is sanded with the correct grit to ensure a perfect finish.
• The special structure of the sanding tools ensures a long service life and safer sanding.

Wood oiling process. How to prepare the surface.

Sand the wooden surface with Mirka Abranet® or Mirka® Galaxy abrasives up to P150 grit and the Mirka® DEROS or Mirka® LEROS-S electric sander.

Abranet features a grid structure rather than the usual paper base. Dust is removed very efficiently directly into the tool, which improves the quality of work and the working environment. Most oiled surfaces are made of hardwood, and hardwood dust is a health hazard. By using a dust-free sanding solution such as Abranet, you can reduce your exposure to harmful sanding dust. The benefits of dustless sanding are not only better health and less risk, but also a better surface finish.

Note: We recommend using Abranet on untreated wooden surfaces. There is a risk of clogging when used on already oiled wood. Since Abranet is a mesh product, we recommend using it if the wooden surface does not have cutouts and sharp corners.

Thanks to the new type of self-sharpening ceramic grains and anti-clogging coating, the Galaxy tool is effective and long-lasting. The Galaxy's ceramic grits are designed to stay sharp as they break and create new sanding edges as you grind, so the Galaxy continues to grind perfectly, from edge to edge.

Galaxy is resistant to edge wear, making it perfect for sanding difficult wood surfaces with cutouts and sharp corners. We recommend using Galaxy if the wooden surface is already oiled and your goal is to maintain the surface.

It is important not to sand with too fine a sander, as this closes the grain of the wood and prevents the oil or wax from penetrating the surface. We recommend using P120-150 grit for surfaces such as floors, and P150-180 grit for finer textured surfaces (such as furniture) depending on the oil manufacturer's instructions.

Always follow the oil or wax manufacturer's recommendations.

Wood oiling. Step by step to the highest quality result.

Step 1. Apply the oil (instead of using a brush).

• Oil or wax can be applied directly on the wooden surface instead of with a brush. Mirlon Total is an economical sanding agent as it is double sided and is perfect for oiling wood as it does not absorb wax. When sanding with Mirlon Total VF manually or using a Mirka DEROS or Mirka LEROS-S sander, the wax or oil will be distributed more evenly and will penetrate deeper into the wooden surface. A mesh base is used to prevent wood fibers from entering the base.
• Apply 1-4 coats depending on the quality you want to achieve. Applying several layers gives a better result. We recommend following the oil manufacturer's instructions.
• Depending on the oil manufacturer:                                        
• Option 1: Apply oil or wax using Mirlon Total VF 360 with a Mirka Net base mounted on a Mirka DEROS or Mirka LEROS-S sander, depending on surface size;
• Option 2: Use Mirlon Total VF 360 strips for manual sanding.
• Treat the entire surface properly, do not let it dry.
• Wipe the surface with a cloth.
• Apply another coat (if recommended by the manufacturer).

Step 2. Intermediate sanding or recoating of old surfaces.

• After the oil has absorbed, sand with one of the following:                           
• Mirlon Total is a more flexible and adaptable abrasive that follows the contours of the surface. It is an economical double-sided sanding tool. Mirlon Total is ideal for creating a matt surface and forms an excellent base for the next coat of varnish.
• Thanks to the self-sharpening ceramic grain and anti-clogging coating, Mirka Galaxy is perfect for wooden surfaces that accumulate a lot of dust and other contaminants. Galaxy's self-sharpening ceramic grits are designed to stay sharp as they break and create new sanding edges as you grind, so the Galaxy continues to grind perfectly.                     
• Option 1: Sand with Mirlon Total VF 360. Mirlon Total VF 360 can be used as a hand sander or in combination with Mirka DEROS or Mirka LEROS-S and Mirka Net.     
• Option 2: Sand with Galaxy (or Abranet) (P400 or P500) using Mirka DEROS or Mirka LEROS-S sander.
• Apply a new layer of oil.
• Repeat these steps as many times as necessary.

Step 3. Finishing (optional).

• When the last layer is dry:                                                    
• Option 1: Sand with Mirlon Total XF 800 or Mirlon UF 1500 using sander Mirka DEROS or Mirka LEROS-S and backing Mirka Net.
• Option 2: Sand by hand with Mirlon Total XF 800 or Mirlon UF 1500 belts.
• If you sand by hand, remember to sand in the direction of the grain!
• If necessary, apply a thin layer of coating with a cloth.

Wood surface maintenance. Wood oiling.

For oiling wood, we recommend Mirlon Total®, a three-dimensional Total Coating™ fiber sanding material that is easy to use on profiled surfaces and produces a dense scratch pattern with fast results. Mirlon Total has an open and flexible structure with reinforced fibres, making it strong and durable. Mirlon Total® can be used for both dry and wet sanding, so it is perfect for creating a matt surface and forms an excellent base for the next coat of varnish.

The process of oiling the wood aims to ensure the quality of the finished surface, while a better sanding finish provides longevity. Taking proper care of your wood surface right from the start will save you time.

Recommended products. Sustainable care of wood products.

If you want to ensure a perfect high-end finish, we recommend using the following Mirka products:

• "Mirka ® DEROS" (150 mm, 125 mm or 77 mm, depending on the size of the surface)
• "Mirka ® LEROS-S" (for larger surfaces)
• manual block
• dust extractor
• Mirka Abranet® or Mirka® Galaxy
• Mirka Mirlon Total®
• microfiber cloth
• Net interface

Kauhavan Puutyö, Finland. Mirka dustless sanding solutions.

Kauhavan Puutyö has been manufacturing and restoring workbenches for various customers for more than 30 years. Thanks to Mirka's dust-free sanding solutions, the company can work more efficiently and achieve better results.

"Thanks to Mirka solutions, we save 52 hours every year. We have more time to create something new."