Orange Oil for Wood

Wood is an essential construction and furniture material used widely for making specialty products, cabinets, flooring, paper production, and renewable energy among others. However, we’re more interested in those for furniture and construction as the focus is on orange oil for wood. As you’ll learn shortly, a variety of oil types are used on wood.

Orange oil is one such and we’ve extensively discussed its benefits, how to use it, features, other applications, as well as the cons of using such oil on wood. What more? You’ll find details regarding the best ways of application on wood, other benefits besides being a wood finish, and several other details. All you have to do is read through this guide to the end.

Benefits of Orange Oil for Wood

Here, we begin by discussing the benefits. The popularity of this natural product is a result of its perceived benefit by users. If you’re new to this product, the following would help you decide if it’s ideal for use. Now, there are several benefits of orange oil on wood, including its ability to restore or replenish lost oil, as well as the prevention of rapid degradation of wood such as fading.

What more? Orange oil for wood offers other benefits like the enhancement of wood grain, being a natural wood preservative and restorer, as well as protecting against decay. Orange oil for wood can also be used to resist mildew and mold growth, control damage due to moisture, for wood polishing purposes, and as a cleaning agent.

More benefits of using orange oil on wood include retaining the wood’s finish during treatment, and treatment of drywood termite infestations. Orange oils also have a conditioning effect on both finished and unfinished wood surfaces as they give a lovely glow. The best part is it can be used on a variety of wood types.

Cons of Using Orange Oil on Wood

Are there any downsides to the use of orange oil on wood? Unfortunately, there are. However, these do not rule out the efficacy of this product on wood. Before using orange oil on wood, you should understand its downsides like not achieving a film finish. When treating termite infestations on wood, this product will only be effective on contact.

This can be impractical considering the behavior of termites which mostly burrow into wood. In other words, you may not be able to reach all the termites (especially subterranean termites) with this treatment approach. Another downside to its use is it lacks moisture protection. So, you shouldn’t expect orange oil to protect your wood from moisture.

Other Wood Oil Types

Are there other wood treatment alternatives besides orange oil? There are several. These wood oil options include teak oil, Danish oil, mineral oil, tung oil, and linseed oil. While there are many more, these represent some of the most common options available besides orange oil. As expected, each has its many advantages and disadvantages.

With these alternatives, you’re left with the decision of what product to use for your wood treatment. Of course, you’ll need to compare and contrast to arrive at the best conclusion. If this seems like a lot of information to process, consider consulting wood treatment or finishing services for advice. You can also research if you have time for that.

Frequency of Treatment

Wood treatment using orange oil requires determining how frequently it will be needed. Now, because woods are used for a variety of functions, including construction and furniture making, the decision on treatment frequency will depend on the specific use it’s being put to. Also, the wood type will determine treatment frequency. These and several other factors come into play.

That said, the frequency of treatment will depend on what you want to achieve. Generally speaking, orange oil treatments for wood need to be repeated anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Wood exposed to the elements (such as sunlight or moisture due to rainfall), may require more frequent treatment than those used for indoor purposes like furniture.

In a nutshell, the best way of knowing how frequently to apply orange oil treatment on wood is by regular inspection. Such assessment gives a true picture of the wood’s condition and whether it’s due for maintenance. You may want to involve a trained eye for better assessment and treatment.

How to Use or Apply Orange Oil on Wood

Having introduced orange oil for wood, including pros and cons, it’s necessary to provide additional information about its application. Now, you should understand that application procedures differ based on expected outcomes as well as the type of wood being treated. Nevertheless, general application procedures include prepping the wood and choosing a preferred application technique.

i. Prepping the Wood

DIY’ers looking to try out the orange oil treatment must abide by safety standards. These include taking precautions like wearing appropriate gloves, protective clothing, safety glasses, putting on long sleeves and pants, and ensuring there’s adequate ventilation. Next is the need to have the wood ready for application.

This involves getting rid of debris, dirt, and other blemishes on wood before application. Here, sanding may be required. Some defects may be identified in the process. These may require fixing before proceeding with the orange oil treatment. You may want to hire an experienced technician for this job as it comes with several benefits.

ii. Choosing a Preferred Application Technique

Several application techniques can be used to apply orange oil to wood. This depends on preference as well as other factors. The most rudimentary technique involves brush application. However, this is mostly adopted when the treatment area is small. Other treatment approaches include cloth and spray application.

Other Uses of Orange Oil

Orange oil is considered versatile due to its several benefits. Besides wood treatment, it can be put to other uses such as the treatment of ailments. The antibacterial properties of orange oil make it a ready alternative. Similarly, this product is also used for immunity enhancement, low blood pressure treatments, and as an anti-inflammatory.

Other claims about its benefits include being useful in the treatment of acne, natural mouthwash, better sleep therapy, and many other uses. Whether these are effective or not depends entirely on who you ask. Don’t take our word for it though. You’re better off consulting with the pros before using orange oil for any bodily treatment or therapy.

Orange oil for wood treatment and preservation is one of several alternatives to consider. It’s best to consult a professional to determine what serves your needs best.