NEW! Owatrol Oil is now available in a handy and easy-to-use 300ml spray can. Making it even easier to apply, especially to those hard to reach places!
Owatrol Oil is versatile, highly penetrating air drying oil that can be used alone or added to paint. Used alone as a rust inhibitor it provides a tough, flexible finish, driving out excess moisture and air; displacing it from rusted metal, so stopping rust dead in its tracks. Used alone on porous wood surfaces it will saturate and protect the wood from damage caused by moisture and prevent paint from peeling.
When added as a paint conditioner to any oil or alkyd based coatings it will give increased wet edge time, improved flow and greater adhesion. Unlike damaging thinners, it will maintain the inherent quality of the paint without affecting its appearance or drying times, allowing you to achieve a more professional finish.
Using Owatrol Oil as a rust inhibitor
Owatrol Oil penetrates through the rusted metal to the sound metal below, isolating it and protecting it from further rusting. Directly use on rusted surfaced – the penetrating oil drives out moisture and air and stabilises the metal to protect it from future damage.
On brand new metal surfaces, use Owatrol’s AP 60 instead. If you are looking for a high gloss rusted finish you can also overcoat the surface with Deks Olje D2 high gloss clear oil.
Using Owatrol Oil to aid adhesion
A bonding film is left on all surfaces Owatrol Oil is used on which maintains the natural look of the surface but allows enhanced adhesion, making it perfect as a foundation for primers or finishing coats. It gives excellent adhesion including on galvanised steel, aluminium, zinc, wood and more. Paint can be applied directly to firm rust when Owatrol Oil is used and is heat resistant up to +175°C.
Using Owatrol Oil as a paint conditioner
Mix Owatrol Oil into oil-based paints as a paint conditioner to get several great benefits. Firstly, it gives the paint rust inhibiting properties and helps prevent rust on painted surfaces (even when rust is already present). Secondly, it also improves the flow and workability of the paint. This means that you can maintain the ‘wet edge’ for longer, reducing brush and roller marks. Finally, it gives the paint a better viscosity allowing painting work to be carried out in a more extreme cold, hot and windy conditions. Unlike damaging paint thinners it does all this without altering the inherent qualities or the finish of the paint.
Please note that if you are looking for a product to give this effect but for water-based paints then please use Floetrol instead as it is designed for use in any water-based paint whereas Owatrol Oil is for use in oil-based paints.
Using Owatrol Oil for wood impregnation
When used on wood surfaces Owatrol Oil saturates the wood and protects it from damage caused by moisture. It also helps to prevent paint from peeling and protects metal parts such as hinges and latches from corrosion.
Ideal Uses for Owatrol Oil
- Priming galvanised surfaces with no need for weathering or pickling
- Preventing further damage in heavily rusted surfaces
- Improving paint flow when working in cold environments
- Preventing peeling paint on wood surfaces
- Protecting metal part on wood surfaces like gates and window frames
- Assuring better adhesion of finishes
Application tools
- Brush
- Roller
- Airless or HVLP sprayer
- Garden sprayer, pump sprayer
Surface Preparation
Surface preparation when using Owatrol Oil as a rust inhibitor
First, surfaces must be clean, dry and free from oil, grease and other surface contaminants. Remove all scale; loose and flaking rust and old paint back to a sound surface and edge and feather in any sharp edges. Surfaces exposed to chemicals (acids, alkalis or salt deposits) should be washed using copious amounts of water or steam cleaned. Severely contaminated surfaces should be cleaned using an appropriate solvent.
Do not remove firm rust or clean the metal back to a bright finish.
Surface preparation when using Owatrol Oil as a paint conditioner
First prepare the surface as per the instructions on your paint can. In addition, if not asked to ensure that you remove all loose and flaking material and treat any organic growth with fungicidal solution or a mix of 1 part water to 1 part chlorine bleach (allow bleach solution to sit for 15 minutes), rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.
Applying Owatrol Oil as a Rust Inhibitor
Using Owatrol Oil on new clean steel
First prime new steel with a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 3 parts primer. Then follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil to subsequent coats as directed under ‘Mixing instructions’ below.
Using Owatrol Oil on lightly rusted surfaces
First prime the surface with a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 2 parts primer. Then follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil to subsequent coats as directed under ‘Mixing instructions’ below.
Using Owatrol Oil on new unpainted rusty steel
First prime the surface with a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 1 part Primer. Then follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil to subsequent coats as directed under ‘Mixing instructions’ below.
Using Owatrol Oil on old, severely rusted or previously coated surfaces
first apply wet on wet applications of Owatrol Oil to all exposed rust until fully saturated and allow it to dry. Saturation is indicated by a uniform glossy appearance to the surface when Owatrol Oil is dry. Before Owatrol Oil has hardened, check the surfaces and remove rust scale and old paint loosened by the above. If needed, touch up these areas. Allow to dry. Next apply a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 2 parts primer and allow to dry. Then follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil to subsequent coats as directed under ‘Mixing instructions’ below.
Note: Owatrol Oil will not lift well bonded paint.
Applying Owatrol Oil as a Paint Conditioner
First apply paint in normal the manner. If the paint is sticky, drags, sets up to fast or does not level properly add Owatrol Oil (stirring in well) until the paint works smoothly, easily and evenly. Allow the brush, roller or sprayer to be your guide.
Using Owatrol Oil as a Paint Conditioner for wood surfaces in sound condition
First prime any bare wood with a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 2 parts primer and allow to dry. Follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil as in ‘Mixing Instructions’ below.
Using Owatrol Oil as a Paint Conditioner on damaged, soft or punky wood surfaces
First apply 2 to 4 liberal applications of Owatrol Oil wet on wet, as fast as the wood will absorb it. Do not allow Owatrol Oil to dry between applications. When the wood cannot absorb any more wipe up any excess and allow to dry overnight (12 hrs). Follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil as in ‘Mixing Instructions’ below to ease application and aid adhesion.
Mixing instructions
Topcoat: As required – normally 5 %-20 % by volume.
Undercoat: up to 30 % by volume.
Primer: up to 50 % by volume.
The above is meant as a guide only. Conditions of application, porosity of surface etc. will dictate the amount of Owatrol Oil to be mixed into the paint.
Clean Up
Clean all tools and equipment with white spirits while still wet. If allowed to dry, remove with paint stripper. Store and maintain equipment as directed by manufacturer.
NOTE: Any rags, steel wool etc soaked in Owatrol Oil may spontaneously catch fire if improperly discarded. Rags, steel wool etc must be saturated with water after use or placed in a sealed, water filled metal container, before disposing with household waste.
Restrictions
Do not mix or overcoat Owatrol Oil with paints containing hot solvents i.e. Xylene, 2 part coatings, chlorinated rubber etc. – for these type of paints use Owatrol CIP instead. Do not use Owatrol Oil as a paint conditioner in water-based paints, for this purpose use Floetrol instead – Owatrol’s water-based paint conditioner.
Things to Remember
- Cover everything you do not wish to paint.
- Apply between + 5°C and + 35°C.
- Do not apply in direct sunlight or on to hot surfaces.
- Test for compatibility when adding Owatrol Oil to paint.
Clem –
Beware if you want to use this to improve the flow/wet edge properties of Eggshell paint.
We had used Little Greene’s Traditional Oil based eggshell to paint furniture before and we loved the flat, near matt finish. However the paint dries very quickly and it is difficult to keep a wet edge (something our excellent professional decorator also sees).
Owatrol is supposed to improve paint flow and it says ‘ will maintain the inherent quality of the paint without affecting its appearance or drying times allowing you to achieve a more professional finish.’
Spoke to Little Greene who said use 3% – didn’t need more and if you did, the drying time would increase. However they also said that it would not make the paint shiny even if more was used.
In reality, the paint flow did improve a bit, but the appearance ended up halfway between eggshell and gloss – not the effect we were looking for. Now have to rub it down and buy some more paint (might use white spirit this time).
Owatrol Team –
Hi there,
Unfortunately you seem to have been given incorrect advice from your paint manufacturer. You do need a minimum of 10% as a start point (as directed on the Product Information TDS) in order to see results. Then there should have been no degradation to the paint and a far improved wet edge working time with the paint.
Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss this further.
The Owatrol Team