Maintenance
Here are a few tips and guidelines to not only help maintain your piece looking new but let it last for generations to come.
Note: wood, and upcycled wood at that, is however sturdy material oak may be, still very complex and at time unpredictable in cases, in a way it still lives and breathes as it reacts to temperature, exposure to sunlight and humidity; in different environments I cannot guarantee the outcome and longevity, results may vary.
The basics
As with our own skin often becoming dry and in need of lotion, wood from time to time will need oil. When it’s time to re-oil be sure to do it when its sun down or in a shaded place. Oil can and will dry on the top surface when exposed to major heat, or if by mixing it with solvents (I advise in a worst case scenario simply apply olive oil, second best would be to buy a premade blend of oil and solvents, however many use toxic and/or synthetic materials so do read the label, 3rd case Rocett provides a maintenance kit in certain products, soon we will be offering our “secret” blend of all natural non-toxic oil with solvent for sale.
Make sure that you never dust your rustic furniture with a dry, rough towel. It is important that you only use a soft, smooth, and clean cloth that is either damp or is covered in furniture polish. Do not use soap and water on the furniture as this will warp the wood overtime. This prevents the dust from scratching the surface of the rustic furniture piece and also protects the finish of the wood stain.
Humidity is hard on rustic furniture. Differing levels of humidity can cause the rustic furniture to expand and contract.
If you need to do a light sanding to re-smoothen a certain piece, use a 200-220 grit sandpaper in the direction of the wood grain, never against or in circles. Once you wiped or brushed on your product, let it sit for about 15 – 20 minutes allowing it to get absorbed into the wood which protects your item from the inside out. Soon as the 15 – 20 minutes are up, wipe away any excess oil thoroughly. Once this is all done let dry over night or for a day before use. Re-oiling once a month is ideal or when you notice water droplets not beading up on the surface. Don’t forget to do maintenance indoors as well. It won’t have to be as frequent but still necessary.
The brand of choice I prefer is Milky, Tung oil and citric solvent, in some cases I use Olive oil from L.A.Cetto winery with the milky solvent for special projects or upon request.
There are many other products you could use, from varying types of oils to varnishes (which I don’t recommend), I prefer this simply because it doesn’t stain the wood any shade and bring out and brightens the woods natural colors.
Every piece comes with its own certificate of authenticity identifying which oak wine barrel it was made from, be it French, American or Hungarian White Oak. The material is very durable and rot resistant, hence why they are used since 300BC. However sticking the furniture outdoors and just forgetting about them just simply won’t do. If you want to protect your investment and keep them around for decades to come they’ll need your help.
The first and most important information you’ll learn is that the sun will do the most damage. The UV rays will age the appearance rapidly turning the wood gray. The constant exposure will also dry the material causing splitting and cracking. It is in your best interest to keep your purchase in shaded areas. If you place the furniture in shaded but non-covered area, excessive rain can be a problem. Too much moisture is not ideal for any kind of outdoor furniture. But believe it or not a little bit of moisture is okay, it will keep the wood hydrated between maintenance. Bottom line is: the best place would be in covered and shaded areas or indoors away from big bay windows.
I do not like to use varnish finishes because it takes away from the product in a sort of way. To me, a glossy shinny finish just don’t look right when it comes to rustic furniture. However if you do decide to go this route, be sure to do some research and find out which one will work best for you.
When applying the varnish you must cover every nook and crevice. Leaving certain part exposed will allow the wood to dry and become weak. A new layer should be applied once a year or when you notice peeling, fading or thinned out layers.
If any issues should occur after you apply any sort of clear coat please be aware we can NOT be held responsible for the reaction of the material. As varnish drys it will shrink a bit and cause warping.
Note: wood, and upcycled wood at that, is however sturdy material oak may be, still very complex and at time unpredictable in cases, in a way it still lives and breathes as it reacts to temperature, exposure to sunlight and humidity; in different environments I cannot guarantee the outcome and longevity, results may vary.
The basics
As with our own skin often becoming dry and in need of lotion, wood from time to time will need oil. When it’s time to re-oil be sure to do it when its sun down or in a shaded place. Oil can and will dry on the top surface when exposed to major heat, or if by mixing it with solvents (I advise in a worst case scenario simply apply olive oil, second best would be to buy a premade blend of oil and solvents, however many use toxic and/or synthetic materials so do read the label, 3rd case Rocett provides a maintenance kit in certain products, soon we will be offering our “secret” blend of all natural non-toxic oil with solvent for sale.
Make sure that you never dust your rustic furniture with a dry, rough towel. It is important that you only use a soft, smooth, and clean cloth that is either damp or is covered in furniture polish. Do not use soap and water on the furniture as this will warp the wood overtime. This prevents the dust from scratching the surface of the rustic furniture piece and also protects the finish of the wood stain.
Humidity is hard on rustic furniture. Differing levels of humidity can cause the rustic furniture to expand and contract.
If you need to do a light sanding to re-smoothen a certain piece, use a 200-220 grit sandpaper in the direction of the wood grain, never against or in circles. Once you wiped or brushed on your product, let it sit for about 15 – 20 minutes allowing it to get absorbed into the wood which protects your item from the inside out. Soon as the 15 – 20 minutes are up, wipe away any excess oil thoroughly. Once this is all done let dry over night or for a day before use. Re-oiling once a month is ideal or when you notice water droplets not beading up on the surface. Don’t forget to do maintenance indoors as well. It won’t have to be as frequent but still necessary.
The brand of choice I prefer is Milky, Tung oil and citric solvent, in some cases I use Olive oil from L.A.Cetto winery with the milky solvent for special projects or upon request.
There are many other products you could use, from varying types of oils to varnishes (which I don’t recommend), I prefer this simply because it doesn’t stain the wood any shade and bring out and brightens the woods natural colors.
Every piece comes with its own certificate of authenticity identifying which oak wine barrel it was made from, be it French, American or Hungarian White Oak. The material is very durable and rot resistant, hence why they are used since 300BC. However sticking the furniture outdoors and just forgetting about them just simply won’t do. If you want to protect your investment and keep them around for decades to come they’ll need your help.
The first and most important information you’ll learn is that the sun will do the most damage. The UV rays will age the appearance rapidly turning the wood gray. The constant exposure will also dry the material causing splitting and cracking. It is in your best interest to keep your purchase in shaded areas. If you place the furniture in shaded but non-covered area, excessive rain can be a problem. Too much moisture is not ideal for any kind of outdoor furniture. But believe it or not a little bit of moisture is okay, it will keep the wood hydrated between maintenance. Bottom line is: the best place would be in covered and shaded areas or indoors away from big bay windows.
I do not like to use varnish finishes because it takes away from the product in a sort of way. To me, a glossy shinny finish just don’t look right when it comes to rustic furniture. However if you do decide to go this route, be sure to do some research and find out which one will work best for you.
When applying the varnish you must cover every nook and crevice. Leaving certain part exposed will allow the wood to dry and become weak. A new layer should be applied once a year or when you notice peeling, fading or thinned out layers.
If any issues should occur after you apply any sort of clear coat please be aware we can NOT be held responsible for the reaction of the material. As varnish drys it will shrink a bit and cause warping.