Danish Oil Dry Time

[kmmcrafts]

Some time ago ( probably been a couple years LOL. Funny I can remember this but can't remember why I went to the Kitchen LOL) there was a topic about Danish Oil not drying very fast.. I've not had the issue and for the most part I have always bought locally at a wood / lumber store that's similar to woodcraft. During the pandemic with all the lockdowns I was unable to go out and get it so I ordered from Home Depot and what they had was limited because as you may have experienced the shortages of things. For some reason they have 3 different listings of the gallon sized and range in price from just one finger to a arm, and then also an arm and a leg, . So I got to thinking about this price thing and started looking closer at those 3 different Natural color oils. 

The cheapest one they have says 8 hours to dry to the touch.. the other two show a VOC rating and I couldn't find that info on the cheaper can.. anyway those other two slightly more expensive cans say dries in 2 hours.. One has a VOC of 275 I think it was and the other was VOC 350 if memory is correct. Anyway, not all these Danish oils are created equal. The last time I ordered I bought one of the higher priced ones, can't remember is it was the one price arm or the one priced arm and leg.. but whatever one it is it gives a much more rich deeper sheen look to the projects.. Thinking it has a bit more oil in the mix.. was thicker to pour than the cheaper stuff..

Just thought I'd bring it up, I think I made a post about this before but since we have many new to the hobby members here maybe one of them is smarter than me and can tell me more about these differences.. Meanwhile if you've had drying issues with your Danish oil maybe you was like me and too cheap to buy the good stuff when it really is better..   

[TAIrving]

I had not picked up on this previously and had to look.  

I found 2 versions of Watco Teak Oil listed on the HD website.  The cans look the same but the prices differ by more than 2X.  

I could not find any difference in the HD listing and had to go into the SDS to find the difference.  The more expensive one is 275VOC and the solvent listed is Ester Alcohol. The less expensive one appears to be 350VOC and the solvent listed is Naptha.  There might be other differences but I stopped reading there.  

 

[edward]

I use it all the time, it dries overnight, I usually buy the quart cans, haven't seen the gallon one in my area. I paid a little over $9.00

[Dave Monk]

From what I see on HD site, natural comes in interior and exterior type. 

[kmmcrafts]

Yes the green colored can is exterior and says good for decks, and fences etc. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-gal-Natural-Oil-Wood-Finish-2-Pack-67731/204803632

This is the cheapest one but it says 8 hours to dry.. I only skimmed through but I didn't see a VOC on this one. Pretty sure this is what I had been using in the past. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-Gallon-Danish-Oil-in-Natural-2-Pack-65731/202067183

Thinking this is the one I purchased last time and has the VOC of 350 I'd have to look to be sure but I doubt I went for the most expensive one.. whatever one it was it was the only one in stock.. so maybe it was the one that is more $$ https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-Gallon-Danish-Oil-in-Natural-2-Pack-65732/202067184 

This one is the most $$ and a VOC of 275.. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-Gallon-Danish-Oil-in-Natural-2-Pack-242217/204793060 

I'll have to look at my can to see what I bought. The lowest price one is 8 hour dry times.. the other two are both 2 hour dry times... I never looked to see what is available in the smaller cans as I've never bought them before. 

 

Edit: I just looked at the pint cans.. all three the same as in gallons for the pint cans dry in 30 minutes... something not right there I don't think. I might have to look more into the ingredients.. I mean they could make the mix different for smaller cans but seems weird.

 

Edited November 2, 2022 by kmmcrafts

[Dave Monk]

3 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Yes the green colored can is exterior and says good for decks, and fences etc. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-gal-Natural-Oil-Wood-Finish-2-Pack-67731/204803632

This is the cheapest one but it says 8 hours to dry.. I only skimmed through but I didn't see a VOC on this one. Pretty sure this is what I had been using in the past. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-Gallon-Danish-Oil-in-Natural-2-Pack-65731/202067183

Thinking this is the one I purchased last time and has the VOC of 350 I'd have to look to be sure but I doubt I went for the most expensive one.. whatever one it was it was the only one in stock.. so maybe it was the one that is more $$ https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-Gallon-Danish-Oil-in-Natural-2-Pack-65732/202067184 

This one is the most $$ and a VOC of 275.. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-Gallon-Danish-Oil-in-Natural-2-Pack-242217/204793060 

I'll have to look at my can to see what I bought. The lowest price one is 8 hour dry times.. the other two are both 2 hour dry times... I never looked to see what is available in the smaller cans as I've never bought them before. 

 

Edit: I just looked at the pint cans.. all three the same as in gallons for the pint cans dry in 30 minutes... something not right there I don't think. I might have to look more into the ingredients.. I mean they could make the mix different for smaller cans but seems weird.

 

I didn't see the higher priced one.  I have the cheaper one and sometimes the wood edges look a bit dry after a few days of drying depending on the wood type. 

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, Dave Monk said:

I didn't see the higher priced one.  I have the cheaper one and sometimes the wood edges look a bit dry after a few days of drying depending on the wood type. 

Yeah, I get that too sometimes.. I either dip a second or third time sometimes or if it's a rush order I will just top coat with polyurethane, typically the water base stuff as it dries really fast.. I'd rather use Lacquer but oil and Lacquer argue with each other too much, and more times than not it'll mess up the finish.. if not right away it will a few weeks later. 

[TAIrving]

20 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Thinking this is the one I purchased last time and has the VOC of 350 I'd have to look to be sure but I doubt I went for the most expensive one.. whatever one it was it was the only one in stock.. so maybe it was the one that is more $$ https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-Gallon-Danish-Oil-in-Natural-2-Pack-65732/202067184 

 

You have to look in the SDS to find the VOC information.  Below is copied from the SDS although the formatting did not copy.  In the "Product Identification" line it says 350VOC and that is the only place I find mention of the VOC.  

 

Safety Data Sheet * Trusted Quality Since 1921 * www.rustoleum.com

1. Identification Product Name: WDCARE 1GL 2PK WATCO DAN OIL NTRL 350VOC

Revision Date: 4/24/2015 Product Identifier: 65732 Supercedes Date:

New SDS Product Use/Class: Wood Coating/ Watco Supplier: Rust-Oleum Corporation 11 Hawthorn Parkway Vernon Hills, IL 60061 USA Manufacturer: Rust-Oleum Corporation 11 Hawthorn Parkway Vernon Hills, IL 60061 USA Preparer: Regulatory Department Emergency Telephone: 24 Hour Hotline: 847-367-7700