Festool Oil Finishes

[zaschaffer]

Now I know this isn't a "tool review" but Festool makes it and its a helluva product. Recently my tool guy suggested I try the Festool oil out. Since I own pretty much everything festool makes and do a ton of hand finishing i figured it was worth a try. I finished a secretary desk one evening with it and by the next day I had ordered the big jug of the heavy duty oil. Needless to say I was impressed.

I build a lot of Maloofian chairs and whatnot so I had been using a 3:1 oil mix with poly tung and blo. The Festool oil contains a wax in it and makes the finishing process so much faster. I was concerned that the grain wouldn't show as well as with the Maloof oil but I feel it is very comparable. Also for flat projects the little squeeze applicator it comes with works really well. I do feel they could make it a little more substantial but I am more interested in the oil than the sponge.

In closing I'd recommend this to anyone that does a lot of hand finishing. Heck id recommend it to everyone. I have an automotive spray booth and it sits unused now thanks to festools oil.

I attached some pics of a couple chairs I made last month and finished with the HD oil.

 

[awil66]

That is some very nice work there.

 

[jaguar36]

Those chairs are beautiful. 

How are you using the Surfix?  It always looked like it would only be useful on a large flat surface.  Are you just using the green and white viles pads by hand?  Did you use the festool applicator sponge or just a regular rag?

 

[bkharman]

Those chairs are beautiful. 

How are you using the Surfix?  It always looked like it would only be useful on a large flat surface.  Are you just using the green and white viles pads by hand?  Did you use the festool applicator sponge or just a regular rag?

Also curious here...

 

[Brent Taylor]

Your work is beautiful,  I am  also thinking about trying out the Festool's finishing products. I currently use Osmo's products, but have no local suppliers,  I do have a local Festool dealer. So your input would be of great value to me. Thanks in advance.

 

[zaschaffer]

Hey guys!

Well first off thanks for the compliments! I had been using just a rag to wipe it on and another rag to wipe it off like 20 mins later. On desks and stuff I'll use the applicator pad so I don't have to use gloves. When I wipe them down I really work at it (think french polishing) so I don't know if the viles pad would work better or not. Im about to finish a walnut one of these anytime and I'll try the pads and give you my two cents.

As far as being compared to OSMO oil I couldn't tell you because I've never used the stuff (I have heard nothing but good about their products though). Idk if you know who Jory Brigham is but he advised I try Festool's oil because he really liked it and as much furniture as he makes i'm sure he has tried OSMO's oil. Hope that helps a bit

 

[Brent Taylor]

I use the vile pad and the white pads to apply and burnish the Osmos,  the latter I use a Rolex or my Makita sander, arthritis and nerve damage makes it difficult to polish,  but you may want to try using a machine to do the polishing. 

 

[bkharman]

I use the vile pad and the white pads to apply and burnish the Osmos,  the latter I use a Rolex or my Makita sander, arthritis and nerve damage makes it difficult to polish,  but you may want to try using a machine to do the polishing.

Be careful, you might damage the work piece with your Rolex.

;^)

Bryan

 

[RobNJ]

I use the vile pad and the white pads to apply and burnish the Osmos,  the latter I use a Rolex or my Makita sander, arthritis and nerve damage makes it difficult to polish,  but you may want to try using a machine to do the polishing.

Be careful, you might damage the work piece with your Rolex.

;^)

Bryan

I guess buying Festool wasn't an expensive enough hobby already!!

 

[Brent Taylor]

I have not  had a problem with the white or green pads, but the vile could cause problems if you use pressure, let let the tools do the work, petty much just hold on to the cord to keep it on track.

 

[leakyroof]

My current Avatar picture is of a portable shower bench that I made out of Afromosia for a now dead friend[ pancreatic cancer].  I finished the piece with Surfix Outdoor Oil to help the wood shed water since UV damage wasn't really an issue with the shower being indoors.

 

[Thebesciak]

Be careful with other sponges than festool,
this is whats happened with my sponge after couple hours when couple drops of surfix oil dropped into that...

[attachimg=1]

 

[leakyroof]

Be careful with other sponges than festool,
this is whats happened with my sponge after couple hours when couple drops of surfix oil dropped into that...

[attachimg=1]

  Yikes..... [eek] [eek] [eek] [eek] [eek]

 

[Cheese]

There's a reason Festool packages the Surfix sponge applicator in a tin box.  [scared]  When I'm done using the Surfix, I place it upside down in the tin box (the applicator handle is on the bottom of the box) and leave the lid open for a few days so that it can get as much air as possible and stay cool. I also keep it out of the sun so it remains cool.

 

[Birdhunter]

There are several references to a "vile pad". What is this?

 

[jaguar36]

Its a type of polishing pad that Festool suggests using with the Surfix oil.  Its actually Vlies, here's a link to the green ones: http://festoolusa.com/power-tool-accessories/finishing/surfix-oil-applicator/abrasives/vlies-polishing-abrasive-for-surfix-green-6-d150-10-pack-496508

 

[Birdhunter]

Thanks for the explanation. I use a Scotch brand of abrasive pads that come in 3 grades. Gray, rough. Green, medium. White, fine. The green Vlies looks like the green pad I use.

 

[Brent Taylor]

Thanks for the explanation. I use a Scotch brand of abrasive pads that come in 3 grades. Gray, rough. Green, medium. White, fine. The green Vlies looks like the green pad I use.
[
They are very similar,  if not the same material.  I use the  3M pads to buff my finish with my Rolex,  as stated in an earlier post  the Vlie pads used with a machine can burn through the  finish,  but like everything, it takes practice and there is a learning curve. I have not had any problems with the 3M pads, nor with the Vlie pads. I also use the white pads to apply the Osmo.  /quote]

 

[Stephen B]

I have not  had a problem with the white or green pads, but the vile could cause problems if you use pressure, let let the tools do the work, petty much just hold on to the cord to keep it on track.

[size=13pt]
And with a ROTEX reduce speed to around 3.

This brochure is worth reading.
http://www.festool.com.au/WebRoot/Store/Shops/tooltechnic/MediaGallery/Guides/oil-and-wax/oiling_and_waxing.pdf

Note the warnings re spontaneous combustion.

 

[mo siopa]

Nice work.  I've done a few experiments with the surfix but it has all been utilitarian.  Good to know you can build a sheen like you've done.  I watched several YouTube videos on surfix before I bought a kit and none of them went anywhere near as far on sheen as you.  I'm very interested in the sanding sequence you used if you don't mind sharing secrets.  I plan on doing a maloof rocker in walnut this year if I can find a nice slab for a matching coffee table.