Manufacturers & Precoaters

Why use CUTEK® Precoating Products?

CUTEK®: THE PROVEN PRE-OILING SOLUTION

CUTEK has a 30-year track record as innovators in the timber protection and pre-oiling markets across five continents. CUTEK® timber oils are independently tested and proven to offer powerful, long-term protection and dimensional stability improvements that stand-up in the most extreme environments. Beyond the protection characteristics, CUTEK® timber oils enhance, rather than obscure, the natural grain and beauty of wood.

SUPERIOR PENETRATION WITH SELF-HEALING EFFECT

CUTEK® wood finishes work differently to traditional wood stain/wood oil/acrylic/urethane/natural oils/wood coating products in that CUTEK® protects your timber from the inside out. CUTEK® penetrates deeply into the wood core upon application, protecting it from the damaging effects of liquid and gas phase water, significantly increasing the service life of your timber. It does this by remaining PERMANENTLY MOBILE inside the wood, migrating to any cut or perforation with a self-healing action.

Many opposition products claim to be a penetrating oil finish; however, they often contain a mixture of solvents, polymers and cross-linking natural oils (such as linseed and tung oils) that penetrate only a few millimetres before drying to form an encapsulating type varnish. Because these coatings do not have a self-healing effect, once this varnish is exposed to the weather, water can quickly enter the core of the timber especially if it has been cut or perforated with fasteners leading to a rapid loss of dimensional stability. Additionally, the use of some natural oils in wood coatings can contribute to the development of unsightly mould and fungal growth underneath subsequently applied coatings. This situation can be difficult and costly to fix.

MACHINE FRIENDLY SOLUTION

CUTEK® oils are fast and easy to use in pre-oiling machines. CUTEK® oils are a very low maintenance machine solution with fast daily start-up and shutdown unlike many competitors’ products that require time consuming and product wasting cleaning procedures at the end of every run. Cleaning, if required, is simple and easy.

Wood freshly coated with CUTEK® oil can be installed straight away or block stacked wet for later use. That is faster turnaround times for you and your clients. CUTEK® oils can obtain incredibly high spreading rates without compromising efficacy leading to lower cost per lineal metre compared to many other applications on the market.

LOWER VOC LEVELS THAN MOST COMPETITOR OIL-BASED PRODUCTS

With CUTEK® more protective components penetrate and STAY permanently in the coated timber. A VOC number quantifies how many volatile organic compounds are released from a coating into the environment as it dries.

CUTEK® timber oils typically contain 20-30 % VOC’s whereas many competitor pre-oiling products contain VOC’s at the 50-60 % level (ASTM3960).

The use of lower VOC CUTEK® oils for pre-oiling means that exceptionally high spreading rates may be obtained without any compromise of product efficacy.

Generally speaking, when competing coatings are compared, a cheaper high VOC coating may become a more expensive option when compared to a lower VOC coating when the amount of product that ACTUALLY REMAINS ACTIVE IN THE COATED WOOD is calculated by subtracting the VOC content by volume of each product.

Proven Performance

CUTEK® OILS ARE PROVEN COST-EFFECTIVE PERFORMERS IN A FACTORY SITUATION AND ARE RECOMMENDED BY PRE-OILING MACHINE SUPPLIERS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS

	Easy & Fast CUTEK® oils are easy and fast to use in machines. Clear coated CUTEK® timber may be block stacked immediately.
	Proven to Actually Work You can use CUTEK® with confidence. Our long term dimensional stability has been demonstrated in the real world ‘built environment’ over the past 30+ years.
	High Spreading Rate CUTEK® oils can obtain incredibly high spreading rates without compromising efficacy leading to lower cost per lineal metre after adjustment for VOC content compared to most competitor’s application recommendations.
	LOW maintenance CUTEK® oils are a very low maintenance machine solution with fast daily start up and shutdown unlike many competitors’ products that require time costly and product wasting cleaning procedures at the end of every run. CUTEK® oils will not generally go hard inside the machine enabling the operator to clean-up at their leisure if at all.
	Proven Safe CUTEK® is proven safe in a factory situation – unlike many other products that contain vegetable oils where extra attention must be paid to fire risk caused by spontaneous combustion of oily rags etc.
	Experienced Reps CUTEK® technical reps are all highly experienced and offer the best hands-on support in the business. Whether you need technical advice regarding timber itself or wood coatings, real help is only a phone call away. We understand the frustration companies feel when they are forced to deal with a sales representative or a call centre when they have a serious problem and need urgent advice while they are denied access to real practical laboratory or technical support.
	Lower VOCs CUTEK® products contain significantly lower VOC’s than many natural oil/polymer based competitor products. More CUTEK® stays in the timber rather than evaporating into the atmosphere.
	Increase your Bottom Line Coating timber with CUTEK® increases its dimensional stability, therefore adding value. Added value allows you to sell that piece of timber for a higher profit margin.

Customised Solutions

CUTEK® OFFERS CUSTOMISED SOLUTIONS WITH FAST, ACTIVE LABORATORY TECHNICAL SUPPORT

When businesses partner with CUTEK® for their pre-oiling/pre-coating solution, we do not lock our pre-coater clients into one formula that is expected to achieve the same results regardless of machine type and cost requirements like most coating suppliers. We actively work with each precoat operation individually to customise a coating formula and solution that matches your machine, environmental and cost requirements for the market that you are targeting. Whether you are competing with cheap imported pre-oiled product or supplying the premium end of the market, we can assist with formulas that meet with your cost requirements in a bespoke solution.

 

 

When businesses partner with CUTEK® for their pre-oiling/pre-coating solution, we do not lock our pre-coater clients into one formula that is expected to achieve the same results regardless of machine type and cost requirements like most coating suppliers. We actively work with each precoat operation individually to customise a coating formula and solution that matches your machine, environmental and cost requirements for the market that you are targeting. Whether you are competing with cheap imported pre-oiled product or supplying the premium end of the market, we can assist with formulas that meet with your cost requirements in a bespoke solution.

 

Additionally, we pride ourselves in offering real access to exceptional technical staff that are conversant in all aspects of precoating and the timber industry. Rather than being “salesman” type experts, many of us have owned and operated our own precoating machines for many years and can provide real hands-on guidance and advice to ensure your pre-oiling operation is profitable and efficient from the start.CUTEK® can also assist with a APVMA licensed wood preservative coating that is typically used on large commercial or government projects where proven performance in challenging environments is essential such as boardwalks and pier/wharfs etc.

In addition, if you need help winning a significant job, we can assist you by engaging technically with your client on your behalf. Working cooperatively with our precoating clients for a successful outcome is always our goal.

 

VIEW PRODUCT

CAN I USE CUTEK® OVER PRE-OILED TIMBER?

IN MOST CASES, THE ANSWER IS YES!

If your timber has been pre-oiled with CUTEK® oils… then you can definitely use CUTEK® oils over the top. In fact, we recommend applying a coat of CUTEK® Extreme CD50 or CUTEK® Wood Preservative after your timber has been installed to increase the dimensional stability.

If your timber has been pre-oiled with a different oil coating… then you need to do a simple test to see if CUTEK® can properly penetrate into your timber. CUTEK® needs a wood surface, free of any barrier that stops CUTEK® moving deeply into your wood, allowing it to work properly.

NOT SURE IF YOUR WOOD HAS A BARRIER ON THE SURFACE?

Simply pour a few drops of water onto your pre-oiled timber and watch to see if it sinks right in and penetrates. If the water can get in, so can CUTEK®! You are free to apply CUTEK® as desired.

(Note: try this test on a few areas of your timber, especially areas that have not been exposed to the sun or the elements – pre-oiled wood that is exposed to UV and rain generally has less of a barrier to penetration than wood that is sheltered from the weather).

If the water that has been applied beads up, then there is a barrier preventing liquids from getting into the timber. To remove this barrier, simply apply CUTEK® Quickclean to the timber at a dilution of 1:1. (1 part water to one part Quickclean). Gently agitate the timber surface with a broom or deck scrubbing brush and rinse thoroughly. Allow the timber to dry. Retest with a few drops of water to ensure the barrier has been removed successfully. When you are satisfied that any barrier has been removed, you will be free to apply CUTEK® as desired.

Remember, regardless if there is a barrier to penetration or not, for best results, it is always best to Prepare your wood properly, before you Protect it. CUTEK® Quickclean with a dilution of 1:1 is the ideal Prepare product to prepare your pre-oiled wood prior to receiving CUTEK®.

STILL NOT SURE…

Remember CUTEK® provides free samples. We always recommend that you test a small patch prior to proceeding with your whole project to determine if CUTEK® is able to be used successfully.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF EFFORT – WHY SHOULD I BOTHER USING CUTEK® INSTEAD OF ANOTHER AFTER MARKET WOOD OIL?

CUTEK® does something that other oils usually don’t do. CUTEK® penetrates deeply inside your timber and then remains permanently mobile with a self-healing effect long after the CUTEK® coated surface has dried. What this means is: even if you cut your timber, or pierce it with a nail/screw, the oil inside will move to that spot, essentially preventing water from being able to get in.
Where CUTEK® is, water can’t be.

WHY DOES KEEPING WATER OUT MATTER?

Water absorbed into wood makes it swell. Water movement out of wood makes it shrink. Wood exposed to weather cycles will keep swelling and shrinking until eventually your timber has warped, cupped and twisted out of shape. Once this happens, it is almost impossible to rectify. It is better to protect your timber properly from the beginning, so that your timber stays straight and usable for the longest period of time possible.

WHAT ELSE DOES CUTEK® DO DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER OILS?

All CUTEK® oils help control water uptake and therefore timber movement. However, CUTEK® also has a unique product in Australia called CUTEK® Wood Preservative.

Not only does CUTEK® Wood Preservative keep your timber stable – CUTEK® Wood Preservative coated wood also resists damage caused by fungal decay, mould and termites. If you are serious about protecting your timber in the best way, for the longest service life possible, choosing CUTEK® Wood Preservative is the way to go – and bonus – you can add Colourtones to all CUTEK® oils if colour retention is also high on your priority list!

Please note – this advice only applies to pre-oiled timbers. If your wood has had another coating applied after installation, then you will need to do further assessments to determine how best to remove the coating/barrier BEFORE using CUTEK®. CUTEK® has other products available to help in this situation (e.g. CUTEK® Wood Stripper). If in doubt, please call one of our friendly CUTEK® timber experts who will be more than willing to help you troubleshoot your particular project.

The best thing to remember is this: CUTEK® needs to get into your wood, so that water can’t. If there is something stopping CUTEK® from penetrating fully, then you need to remove that barrier before your first application of CUTEK® oil.

But here is the best part: Once you have used CUTEK® for the first time, maintenance in the future is simple and easy! The next time you need to refresh your timber, just clean and reapply. No sanding, stripping or other frustrating procedures required!

Comparison Chart

Operation and Machine Advice

Our knowledgeable staff have experience in the timber and timber coatings industry. In fact, many have owned and operated pre-coating machines previously. We understand the intricacies of the industry and can give full-scope advice on how to make your CUTEK® pre-oiling operation run as efficiently and profitable as possible.

On the operations side, we are on hand to help you set-up the machine and will assist with your first ‘run’ with CUTEK® oil. We will show you how to clean and maintain your machine and can talk through post-coating and wet-stacking procedures for the best outcome.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

We pride ourselves in offering real access to exceptional technical staff that are conversant in all aspects of precoating and the timber industry.

Rather than being “salesman” type experts, many of us have owned and operated our own precoating machines for many years and can provide real hands-on guidance and advice to ensure your pre-oiling operation is profitable and efficient from the start.

CUTEK® technical reps are all highly experienced and offer the best hands-on support in the business. Whether you need technical advice regarding timber itself or wood coatings, real help is only a phone call away. We understand the frustration companies feel when they are forced to deal with a sales representative or a call centre when they have a serious problem and need urgent advice while they are denied access to real practical laboratory or technical support.

TAILORED MARKETING MATERIALS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR PRE-COATERS

We understand pre-oiling operations and sales and we are committed to providing the utmost support to help your business succeed. We engage in radio, print and online advertising and provide point of sale materials to promote your CUTEK® pre-oiling operation.

We can also discuss how to position the value of pre-oiling with CUTEK® with customers and outline the strong case as to why CUTEK® is the best pre-oiling solution on the market. This means better outcomes for your business and your clients.

Further, we provide excellent after sales support. Any troubleshooting required? We are available to discuss the situation and help find a solution to the issue.