Sorry if I came across the wrong way. I wasn't trying to imply that you were a novice. For that matter, I'm no finishing expert either compared to some of our members here.
- Can any of these oils be used for surfaces that have contact with food e.g. cutting boards, serving plates, etc. ?
The heavy duty oil is recommended for kitchen counters.
- Does the One Step oil need a second coat & sanding like in the video or is it really a single step process of wipe on and let it dry?
For the best results, the same steps should be completed for all of the oils.
- What are the suggested targets for use of each oil? i.e. is Heavy Duty only meant for stairs or could it work on say a table top or would it be overkill for a shelf? Is the
Outdoor oil meant for teak furniture or deck oiling (probably not because of price...) or something totally different like fences or posts?
I have three more documents that I will post here and later link on our website that will have recommended applications and may help to answer some of your questions.
- Can any of them be used with stains - what will happen if you do? (since you mentioned that it's not suggested)
I would not recommend that you use oils with stain. It's meant to be used on unfinished wood.
- Can one put lacquer on top of these oils for surface protection? (I'm thinking here my solid wood table project where the looks of the wood would benefit of some sort of oil before lacquering with boat lacquer to bring out the wood structure)
- Can you put wax on surfix oil treated wood? Or is it redundant with the chemicals already in the surfix oil?
I don't know how they would react chemically, so I'll need to get some advice from a colleague to answer this one confidently.
- Will these oils leave a film on top of the wood or will they be sucked into the wood?
There shouldn't be a film. They will be absorbed to some extent.
- What is the difference between white and green vlies?
The color. [tongue] The green is more coarse and is made to work the oil into the surface. The white is more fine and polishes the surface.
- How long will the applicator sponge stay usable in the metal box? Will it store there for a day/week/month?
I will depend on environmental conditions and how saturated the sponge is. I would recommend putting it in a zip lock bag for extended storage. Other members may have additional tips to keep it from drying out. I would classify the box as temporary, short term storage since it's not air tight.
- What detergent should be used to wash the sponge before packing the surfix away for an extended period (>1 month) of time to keep the sponge usable? Or is it a use-once part?
You should be able to use soap and warm water to clean it. Linseed oil is similar to vegetable oil.
- Do you need to clean the spray nozzle somehow before storage?
There's a cap for the nozzle that should be used for storage. So, there shouldn't be a need to clean it.
- How long will the oil stay usable after opening a bottle?
I'll have to research this one. It says 5 years when unopened but I don't see the spec for after being opened.
- Should one take special measures to extend the life of the product somehow? (like squeeze air out or inject carbon dioxide into the bottle before closing it?
Just store in a cool, dry place.
- Can the oil be sprayed with a HVLP? Does this even make sense (I honestly don't know)?
It's designed for application with the Surfix applicator.
I guess half of these questions are probably trivial to most of you but I'm doing finishing based on what it says on the back of a can and these cans don't have a whole lot of text on the back... [unsure]
I think they were well thought out questions and I'm sure they will help educate other people who are interested in the Surfix. Once I get the answers to the questions that I don't know, you will have ended up educating me too.
SEE ATTACHMENTS FOR INFO.