Odie's Oil Application Instructions

You have planned your approach. You have sanded and prepped your wood. Now you are ready to finish it. Let's show you how to apply Odie's Oil! 

Complete Guide to Applying Odie's Oil

• Tips and Instructions for Applying Odie’s Oil

1 - Apply the Odie’s Oil finish with a brush, abrasive pad, (steel wool or other), your hands, or a rag. Almost any applicator will work! When applying Odie's Oil, always rub the finish into the surface. This will push the special formulation of oils and waxes into the wood surface, thereby activating the wood fiber to draw in more finish, thus activating the oil and wax, and in so doing, creating a bond between the wood and the oil. Really rub vigorously! The more effort, the better the result! Apply more oil as needed. More oil is needed when the wood absorbs all the oil from the surface. You have applied enough when a light film of oil remains on the surface.

2 - Give the oil a good 30 minutes to sink into the wood. If the surface has absorbed the oil and feels dry to touch, apply more. Repeat the process until the wood is fully saturated. If the work piece no longer absorbs oil and oil remains at the surface of all parts of the work piece, then the piece is fully saturated with oil.

3 - Now that the piece is fully saturated, set it aside and allow the finish to “set up” for at least 40 minutes. You can wait longer, up to 24 hours. Just remember, the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to buff (results will vary).

4 - After the 40-minute set up time, take a dry and clean lint-free cloth and completely buff the entire surface until all the oil is removed from the surface. Buff vigorously! The piece should feel dry to touch when finished.

5 - Put the piece aside and let it dry 72 hours before use.

Adding Coats For Additional Sheen and Protection

After the first 24 hours of dry time, you can apply a second coat of Odie’s Oil for additional sheen and protection. Just repeat the Odie's Oil application instructions above. You can apply as many coats as you desire.

Tips and Techniques For Applying Odie’s Wood Butter and Odie’s Wax

Both Odie’s Wood Butter and Odie’s Wax can be used as finishes by themselves. They both give their own unique glow and luster.

Using Odie’s Wood Butter To Reduce Checking

Odie’s Wood Butter can be used on wet wood with Odie’s Oil or Odie’s Oxi Oil as a wood stabilizer. When using Odie’s Wood Butter in conjunction with Odie’s Oil, turners can actually turn a wet piece to its final shape and use the Odie’s Wood Butter to reduce checking and movement in the piece. For best results, try the following technique:

1-    Turn the piece and apply Odie’s Oil to full saturation without buffing off.

2-    Then apply a coat of Odie’s Wood Butter as a topcoat.

3-    Set the piece aside out of the sun in a stable environment, until it reaches its EMC (equilibrium moisture content).

4-    Finally, reapply a coat of Odie’s Oil, Odie’s Oxi Oil or Odie’s Super Penetrating Oil to reactivate the finish and buff the residual finish off to the desired sheen.

Odie’s Wax as a Top Coat

All Odie’s Wood Finishes can be top coated with a coat of Odie’s Wax for extra sheen and extra protection!

Fun Tricks and Techniques for Odie's Oil Application

For Added Sheen and Protection

Add a coat of Odie’s Wood Butter or Odie’s Wax after the initial application of Odie’s Oil or Odie’s Oxi Oil to increase sheen and protection. Odie’s Wood Butter and Odie’s Wax are applied basically the same way. Just follow the previous instructions. Add as many coats as desired.

A Layering Trick For an Even Higher Luster

Wait at least 24 hours for your application of Odie’s Wood Butter to dry and add another light coat of Odie’s Oil or Odie’s Oxi Oil, but buff out this coat immediately (no set up time). This will give the piece a bright, high luster wet look! The purpose of this last, light coat of Oil is to level out the previous coat of Odie’s Wood Butter. You can use the same process with the wax.

Get a Wet, Glossy Look with Odie’s Super Penetrating Oil and Odie’s Wood Butter

To achieve a wet and glossy look, use Odie’s Super Penetrating Oil over Odie's Wood Butter. It levels out the previous coat of wax to achieve that ultimate shine.

A Time Saving Trick

For another way to finish with Odie’s Oil and get a higher sheen than just a coat of Odie’s Oil, but without the wait of the previous tricks, try the following technique:

1-    Apply one heavy coat of Odie’s Oil, Odie’s Oxi Oil or Odie’s Super Penetrating Oil and then immediately apply Odie’s Wood Butter in the same application.

2-    Work this slurry of Odie’s Oil and Wood Butter into the wood surface. Try to get as much as possible to absorb into the wood. Once again, if the surface starts to feel dry, add more of each product until the wood fiber is completely saturated.  

3-    Wait the 40-minute set time or longer and VIGOROUSLY buff the surface COMPLETELY clean and dry to touch.

4-    Let the piece dry for 72 hours before use. This process will give a higher luster than the Odie’s Oil alone application, but usually not as much as the layered Oil/Butter or Wax then Oil approach described in the previous tricks.

A Note About Friction Polish and Buffers

All Odie’s finishes can be used like a friction polish, and all Odie’s finishes can be used with mechanical buffers. In fact, the friction and heat caused from the lathe or mechanical buffer will speed up and enhance the application process. In most cases, the work piece can be buffed out to its final polish immediately after applying because the heat caused by friction shortens the set up time.

Final Thoughts About Applying Odie's Oil

A Reminder About Oil Soaked Rags

Warning: Oil and Solvent soaked rags are combustible. Please dispose of rags in a sealed container.

Odie’s Oil Wants You To Flourish

All of the Odie’s products are made to work together or alone. With this flexibility, you are allowed to customize your finish, and you are given the freedom to create a project that is uniquely yours.

We can only give tips on how to achieve different results, but in your hands, you can take it to any level desired. It’s the easiest finish to use and get great results. Odie’s Oil is a finish that brings out the true artist in everyone! 

Order Odie’s Oil from KJP Select Hardwoods

Now that you’ve read our Odie’s Oil instructions, you have the knowledge and ability to put the perfect final touch on any project. At KJP Select Hardwoods, we don’t just carry Odie’s Oil, we also offer a wide variety of finishing oils and other wood finishing products. We’re your one-stop shop for all of your finishing needs.

Buy Odie's Oil