Cabot Australian Timber Oil is a blend of oils formulated to penetrate wood used on railings, decks, outdoor furniture, etc. Upon penetration, Cabot Australian Timber Oil begins to treat and protect the wood from extreme exposure, such as exposure to UV rays which bleach the color out of untreated wood.
It contains special oils that serve particular purposes: pure tung oil provides color depth and repels water from sinking into the wood and causing it to rot; linseed oil ensures maximum penetration of the stain into the wood; long-oil alkyds ensure the durability of the stain and elongates its effects on the wood.
The Cabot Australian Timber Oils are both oil-based stains. The Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 uses mineral spirits to transfer oil to the wood, while the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 19400 uses water miscible oil.
| Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 | Cabot Australian Timber Oil 19400 | |
| Different Coverage | Generally, the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 can cover 400 to 600 square feet per gallon on a smooth surface. However, this same stain’s coverage will be nearly halved when covering rough surfaces; it can cover 250 to 350 square feet per gallon. | The coverage and spread rates of the Cabot Australian Timber Oils differ depending on the porosity of the surface on which they are applied. On the other hand, when applied to smooth surfaces, the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 19400 covers approximately 250 to 350 square feet per gallon. |
| Cost | The Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 costs about $40-$60 per gallon, depending on where you buy. In the event of an expansive project that requires a lot of stains, five gallons of the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400is sold anywhere from $246 to $280. | The price of the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 19400 depends significantly on whether it is a gallon, quartz, or aerosol can; these are in order of most expensive to least expensive. A gallon of the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 19400 ranges from $60 to $70, and five gallons of the stain cost about $240 to $275. |
Differences Between Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 and 19400
Means of Transporting Oil to the Wood
The Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 uses mineral spirits to transport the oil in the stain onto the wood. In this stain, mineral spirits are mixed with the oil. After applying the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 to the wood, the mineral spirits evaporate, leaving only oil to treat the wood.
The Cabot Australian Timber Oil 19400 differs from the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 because it replaces mineral spirits with water to transport oil to the wood. Typically, water and oil do not mix, but the oil used in this stain is water-miscible, i.e., oil that can mix with water at a molecular level. So, when you brush the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 19400 onto wood, the water dries off and leaves the oil to penetrate the wood.
Drying Time
Wood is successfully treated when the stain applied on it has completely dried. The drying time for the Cabot Australian Timber Oils varies; it takes approximately 24 to 48 hours for the Cabot Australian Timber 3400 to dry (depending on humidity and temperature). The Cabot Australian Timber 19400 takes about 24 hours to dry (this also depends on temperature and humidity).
If, however, you apply either of the stains to decking covered by a canopy or some other roof structure, it will take longer to dry.
Similarities Between Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 and 19400
Oil-Based
The Cabot Australian Timber Oils 3400 and 19400 are oil-based stains that use three different types of oil to provide premium wood penetration and protection. Both stains use pure South American tung oil for color depth and water repellence, high-quality linseed oil for all-out penetration of the treated wood, and long-oil alkyds that ensure the durability of the treated wood.
Maintenance
Maintenance of the treated wood is essential to ensure durability and prevent mildew, grass, and other unwanted elements from growing on the treated wood. The Cabot Australian Timber Oils 3400 and 19400 series have similar requirements for maintenance. Moisture (from rain, snow, dew, etc.) destroys wood, and prolonged exposure to moisture is sure to eat at the wood slowly. If there are accidental spills on the wood, ensure that you clean them immediately or as soon as possible.
Assess the quality of the finish each spring and maintain the treated wood if it is necessary. It is vital to note that although the stains contain iron-oxide pigments that protect from UV rays, the wood will fade over time as it is exposed to more sunlight. Thus, the darker the stain, the longer it takes to fade the wood’s color. The durability of the wood treatment depends mainly on the weather, wear (such as constant foot traffic), and other conditions, but the finish can last 2 to 4 years on fences and 1 to 3 years on decks.
Application
It is important to note that the Cabot Australian Timber Oils 3400 and 19400 require that you apply only one coat to the wood; applying more than one coat will leave an excess stain on the wood and leave an uneven, shiny wood. Use a natural-bristle brush or a lamb’s wool applicator pad to apply the stains to the wood.
Before and during the application, shake and thoroughly stir the stains to ensure uniformity. If you are using more than one can of either stain, ensure that you mix the contents of all cans. Keep a rag with you as you treat the wood, and wipe up excess stain that does not soak into the wood within 15 seconds.
Conclusion
The Cabot Australian Timber Oils 3400 and 19400 are wood-toned finishes that penetrate and protect wood such as sidings, decks, railings, and outdoor furniture, from water, mildew, and color loss caused by UV rays, and many more. These high-quality penetrative stains extend the lifespan of woods and return them to their original colors. How do you know it is time to treat your deck or railings? Test the readiness of the wood by putting a drop of water on it. If the water soaks into the wood within a couple of seconds, you can consider treating the wood with the Cabot Australian Timber Oil 3400 or 19400; but if the drop of water does not penetrate the wood in five seconds or more, neither will the stains.