Top Promotion Banner

Wood Flooring Application Guide For Maximum Performance

APPLICATION (BUFF ON)

To ensure proper coverage, mark the corners of 30–35 sq. ft. on oak with masking tape. The coverage will be less for softer woods and more for denser species.

Stir the oil thoroughly before use! Then come the 3 D’s: Disperse. Distribute. Drive-In.

1. DISPERSE THE OIL: Measure 2 tablespoons (1 oz.) of Odie’s Oil. Dab small amounts evenly throughout the marked area.

2. DISTRIBUTE THE OIL: Using a standard 175 RPM floor buffer with a 1" thick red buffing pad, connect and spread the spots with the buffer, distributing the oil approximately evenly across the section. Some dry spots are normal at this stage.

3. DRIVE IT IN SLOWLY! (>>THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP!<<)
Slow down & work in the oil! Move the buffer at approximately 1"/second. Friction creates heat that temporarily thins the oil, allowing it to stretch further and penetrate the wood. YOUR GOAL: Make that 1 oz. of oil cover the entire section!

Continue buffing until all dry spots disappear and the oil is fully worked into the wood fibers. Do not leave excess oil on the surface. If you see oil being left behind as you move the buffer, pick it up with the buffer and work it into areas that need more.

TIP: Slightly heel the buffer by applying pressure to the right handle. This increases pressure and friction around the 3–4 o’clock position, generating additional heat and helping drive the oil into the wood. Move slowly from right to left.

NOTE: For best results, the wood surface should be above 65°F (18°C).

After approximately 1 hour of absorption, you are ready to buff off the oil and bring the finish to a beautiful sheen.

 

REMOVAL (BUFF OFF)

1. REMOVE SURFACE OIL
Using a new white buffing pad, remove the remaining oil from the surface. Check the pad frequently (typically after 60–80 sqft). When the pad becomes tacky and less effective at picking up excess oil flip to a clean side or replace with a new pad. Repeat until you buff the entire surface dry and free from any oil.

2. FINAL BUFF WITH COTTON TERRY TOWELS
For a final removal of any remaining oil residue, buff the entire surface with clean 100% cotton terry towels. Change or rotate towels frequently (approximately every 50 sqft) until all traces of excess oil are removed, the surface feels dry to the touch and passes step

#3. TIP: Wash towels before use to remove the slight oily residue often found on mass-produced towels.
This makes them significantly more absorbent.

NOTE: An additional buff with microfiber towels after the terry towels can help remove any remaining excess oil and will speed initial curing.

3. TEST THE SURFACE
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Look at the floor from an angle in reflected light and rub your dry fingers back and forth the finish with firm pressure. You should NOT see any finger marks in the reflection. If you can leave a mark or feel oil on the surface, keep buffing off!

Once the surface passes the test, the floor can be walked on immediately in dry socks or cloth shoe covers.

If a SECOND application is desired, generally wait at least 24 hours and follow the same steps. The only difference is, you will use half as much oil this time around.

Shoes: Wait at least 24 hours.
Water resistance: 3-5 days (depending on temperature and humidity)
Full cure: The oil will continue to cure and harden for approximately 2–3 weeks, depending on temperature and humidity.
Cleaning & area rugs: Do not clean the floor or place area rugs on it for 3 weeks.

WARNING! OIL-SOAKED RAGS CAN SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST. DISPOSE USED RAGS IN A SEALED CONTAINER.

 

 MAINTENANCE:

On a newly refinished floor, wait 2-3 weeks before using cleaning products! After that, clean as needed with Odie’s Super Cleaning Concentrate diluted 2–3% with water (approximately 40 water to 1 cleaner ratio), or white vinegar diluted 10% with water (10 water to 1 vinegar ratio).
TIP: Using distilled water eliminates the possibility of hard-water minerals drying on the surface, resulting in a cleaner-looking finish. For example, 1 gallon of cleaning solution, use 3 oz. of Odie’s Super Cleaning Concentrate or 12 oz. of white vinegar.

Use Odie’s Oil as a touch up when needed. Simply buff on on and buff off in any areas to be retreated.

 

TROUBLESHOOTING:

Poor performance, water spotting, food staining, white haziness, or a dull, lifeless appearance can indicate that too much oil was left on the surface. 

Odie’s Oil is designed to catalyze with the wood. Any excess oil that does not become part of the wood will oxidize when exposed to oxygen, forming a chalky, porous surface film. This film can look dull and lifeless, scratch easily, and trap moisture and chemicals rather than repel them.

The good news: You do NOT have to re-sand and start over!

 

REMOVING THE EXCESS SURFACE LAYER

If the application was only a couple of days ago:
  • Apply a small amount of additional oil to reactivate the excess surface oil, then remove it properly by following the “BUFF OFF” procedure earlier in this guide.
If the application was weeks or months ago:
  • Use Odie’s Safer Solvent to remove the excess surface layer.
  • Wet buff with a maroon pad (the thinner, darker more abrasive pad, not the 1” thick lighter red pad) and Safer Solvent. Keep the surface wet with solvent throughout the process.
  • You may add 10–20% Odie’s Oil to the solvent to reduce evaporation.
  • A solvent-safe spray bottle makes it easy to reapply solvent as needed and continue buffing without stopping.
  • Follow with clean terry towels to remove all remaining residue.

This process removes only the excess surface layer and will not damage the Odie’s Oil that has already catalyzed within the wood.

WARNING! OIL SOAKED RAGS CAN SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST. DISPOSE USED RAGS IN A SEALED CONTAINER.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Odie's Oil Wood Flooring Application Instructions

 

 

Wood Flooring Application Instructions:

(Use the standard Odie’s Oil application instructions above if you do not have access to a buffer)

Using a janitorial type floor buffer: Pour a pancake size puddle of Odie’s Oil onto the floor and buff into the wood with a red buffing pad. Buff the finish into the wood in the direction of the grain. Buff until the finish is completely worked into the wood fiber. Do not apply too much. Only use what is needed to saturate the wood fiber, and no more. The heat caused by the friction of the buffer will force Odie’s Oil oils and waxes into the wood, bringing out the woods natural depth and colors.

When the wood will not absorb any more oil, and the oil stays on the surface, it is time to move to the next area. Be sure not to leave any puddles of oil on the wood surface. Work any remaining amount of oil into the next area. Work in small sections until you have covered the entire surface.

One hour after application you are ready to buff the floor to a beautiful sheen. First use a fresh, clean white pad and remove any remaining Odie’s Oil from the surface of the floor. If the pad becomes saturated and is no longer effective, change it to a new one. Repeat until you buff the entire surface dry and free from any oil.

To ensure all oil is removed from the surface, a final buffing with clean white pads or cotton towel is recommended. Change your pads as needed until all traces of remaining oil residue are removed from the entire surface and the surface feels dry to touch. Your floor should have a beautiful sheen.

Stay off the surface for 72 hours and allow it to dry. Walk on surface with dry socks only, and keep the surface free of water for 2 weeks. This ensures even results; the longer the cure time, the better the results.

Easy Maintenance

Clean whenever needed with Odie's Super Cleaning Concentrate and water mixture (1:99 dilution) white vinegar and water mixture (1:10 dilution). Use Odie’s Oil as a touch up when needed. Simply wipe on and wipe off in any areas to be retreated. Now isn’t that easy?

 

 

WARNING! OIL SOAKED RAGS CAN SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST. DISPOSE USED RAGS IN A SEALED CONTAINER.

 

!