OSMO Polyx Oil
OSMO Polyx Oil – $34.95/.75 Liter, $96.95/2.5 Liter, $369.95/10 Liter
Not to be confused with traditional oil finishes, OSMO Polyx Oil is an engineered finish made with plant oils and waxes, plus just enough highly refined mineral spirits to allow easy application. This remarkable finish offers excellent durability and renewability with a unique lustrous finish. It will never crack, blister or flake off. Instead of forming a plastic film, like polyurethane does, OSMO Polyx Oil has open pores that “breathe.” This allows any moisture that does get through to get back out again without pushing off the finish.
Spot repairs are easy. There’s no need to strip the whole floor or even to remove old Polyx Oil. For minor repairs, just scuff the damaged area with fine steel wool, coat with OSMO Liquid Wax Cleaner and buff lightly when the cleaner is dry. If a more extensive fix is needed, use Hardwax Oil. Make repairs regularly, and the finish will last indefinitely.
This product provides no protection against ultraviolet rays from the sun, so it is not suitable for outdoor use.
Ingredients
Key ingredients in Polyx Oil include sunflower, soybean and thistle oil, plus two hard, natural waxes—carnauba and candelilla. A Brazilian palm tree, Copernica cerifera, produces the carnauba in its leaves, berries and stalks. Villagers cut down fronds, dry them for several days, and then beat off the wax. The candelilla comes from the outer coating on a desert shrub, Euphorbia antisyphiliti, that grows in northern Mexico. Farmers boil the leaves and stems with water and acid to release the wax.
This is an oil-based product. Like most finishes—even water-based ones—it needs a solvent to perform properly. OSMO uses the safest one that works with oil-based finishes: benzene-free, low-odor mineral spirits. This is an aliphatic petroleum distillate, which means it is a petroleum product that has its carbon atoms arranged in open chains instead of rings. The more toxic, aromatic or ring hydrocarbons have been removed, resulting in a milder odor.
Apply two coats. On each coat, 1 liter of OSMO Hardwax Oil covers 200-260 square feet depending on wood type.
Sand off scratches or other damage. On wood, start with 80-grit sandpaper on deep gouges and finish with 100-grit. On cork, use 100-grit only. Vacuum away dust. Wipe on a small amount of Hardwax Oil. Do not allow to puddle, and allow it to dry for 24 to 48 hours with good ventilation. Buff with extra-fine steel wool or a 3M Scotch Brite white pad to blend the edges of the patch into the surrounding finish. Low-odor mineral spirits are among the safest solvents of their type. But in sufficient quantities, they can affect the central nervous system and cause serious health problems. Ensure adequate ventilation during application and while this finish dries. For additional protection, wear a well-fitting respirator with organic-vapor cartridges.
WARNING: Spontaneous Combustion Danger! Oil-soaked materials (rags, steel wool, sanding dust, etc.) may spontaneously combust.
Immerse oil-soaked materials in water and store in an air-tight container.
WARNING: Contains Flammable Solvents! Use only in areas with no open flames or other sources of ignition. No smoking. Provide good ventilation. Observe all local and federal laws that pertain to the handling and storage of these types of products.