MURDOCH’S HARD SEALER
This product was developed as the first step in using the Murdoch’s™ line of finishes. All new wood must first be sealed to close off the pores of the wood, allowing the finish coats to remain on the surface to protect and preserve. This formulation has a higher ratio of our Polymerized Botanical Tung Oil to resin permitting the finish to penetrate deep into the wood fibers. For most applications it is recommended that you use two coats of Murdoch’s Hard Sealer™ before applying the finish coats. Over time, we have found that Hard Sealer is a perfect, low lustre topcoat as well as sealing coat. Directions for that application are found below.
DIRECTIONS FOR USING MURDOCH’S HARD SEALER™
WOOD PREPARATION:
All wood surfaces should be free of lint, dirt, grease, wax, oil and old paint. If you are refinishing old wood, please make sure to remove all the old finish. The amount of finish remaining in the wood fibers will determine whether you apply one or two coats of Hard Sealer. If the first coat is readily absorbed, recoat with a second coat at recommended intervals. New wood should be sanded with the final grit being no higher than 180/220 grit, to permit adequate penetration of the Hard Sealer deep into the wood fibers. For natural wood that won’t be stained, apply two coats of clear Hard Sealer following the directions. If you plan to stain the wood, the first coat of Hard Sealer is applied clear and then the Concentrated Stain is added to the second coat of Hard Sealer based on a predetermined ratio.
APPLICATION OF MURDOCH’S HARD SEALER™:
We recommend that you apply two coats of Murdoch’s Hard Sealer™. It should be applied using a natural bristle brush. Brush out the first coat liberally to cover the entire surface of the project you are working on. All applications of other products in the Murdoch’s™ line should be applied thinly. Allow two-three hours for the product to dry/cure. Sand the entire surface with a 220 grit paper. The second coat of Hard Sealer is applied the same way. After the second coat of Hard Sealer is dried/cured (2-3hours) the surface needs to be thoroughly sanded before applying the finish coats. Lightly sand the surface with a 320grit paper.
For floor finishing, if the wood is to remain natural with no stain added to your second coat of Hard Sealer, the sanding after the first coat of Hard Sealer may be eliminated. After using the second coat of Hard Sealer on a floor, the floor may be screened with a 120/150grit screen. Sanding will smooth the burr of the wood that is raised using the Hard Sealer. To obtain a smooth surface, sanding after sealing is essential! If you plan to stain the wood, apply your first clear coat of Hard Sealer as described above. After this coat is cured, sand thoroughly, vacuum and tack the surface before applying your Hard Sealer/Stain coat. We suggest brushing out the Hard Sealer/Stain coating as you have much better control of the staining process with a brush. However, if you are a flooring professional and are experienced with an applicator, you will probably have equal success. Lightly sand or screen with a 120/150 used screen after the Hard Sealer/Stain layer is cured. Make sure to thoroughly vacuum and tack the surface before applying finish coats. The brush or applicator can be cleaned with mineral spirits, turpentine, or use our citrus-derived solvent, Di-Citrusol™.
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AFTER MURDOCH’S HARD SEALER™:
Use one of the finishes in Murdoch’s™ line: Murdoch’s Uralkyd-500™ Floor Finish, Murdoch’s Table Top™, or Murdoch’s Hard Oil™ according to label directions.
Using Murdoch’s Hard Sealer as a Low Lustre wiping finish or as a final topcoat for other Murdoch’s finishes
LOW LUSTRE WIPING FINISH
The Hard Sealer was originally formulated to be the beginning process for other topcoat finishes in the Murdoch’s line. It is formulated to build to the surface and to deposit Polymerized Tung Oil deep into the wood pores illustrating the wood grain and keeping the finish flexible. As we have continued to test and use the product, we have discovered that the Hard Sealer™ is capable of being a low lustre, wiping finish, without sacrificing durability. This finish is formulated with our Polymerized Tung Oil and a small amount of the Uralkyd 500™ resin, allowing the finish to be wiped easily, which lowers the sheen, while still adding durability and protection. The same product features apply such as cure rates in the 3-4 hour range, clarity of the finish etc. The application is the same, with a good natural bristle brush. The product can be applied and left as a surface (film) finish, which will increase the sheen and add more protection or can be wiped, adding more protection than Polymerized Tung Oil-only while keeping the sheen low.
WOOD PREPARTATION:
All wood surfaces should be free of lint, dirt, grease, wax, oil and old paint. If you are refinishing old wood without removing all the old finish, make sure to remove any loose finish. New wood should be sanded with the final grit being no higher than 180/220 grit, to permit adequate penetration of the Hard Sealer deep into the wood fibers. Regardless of the technique you choose, you may find that the first coat of Hard Sealer™ may raise the wood grain. If this occurs, prior to your second coat, sand with 220 grit. Vacuum and tack the surface and proceed with the second coat. Wood preparation after that can be done with finer grits as recommended below. A
Using a surface application technique- 4 coats recommended
Apply the Hard Sealer with a good quality natural bristle brush. Allow it to cure on the surface 3-4 hours. Lightly sand between coats using a 400/600 grit paper. Vacuum and tack the surface prior to re-coating.This will give you a very glossy surface.
Using a wiping technique – 4-6 coats
Apply the Hard Sealer with a good quality natural bristle brush. Allow the Hard Sealer to penetrate 5-10 minutes, and then wipe the surface with a clean, soft, cloth such as cheesecloth. Allow it to cure 3-4 hours. In addition to a wiping technique providing a lower sheen with more protection, it can be used on very dusty construction sites allowing the finisher to apply finish in areas that are typically not workable with standard resin (surface/film) coatings.
The final topcoat over other Murdoch’s Finishes
Traditionally, resin finishes have a slow drying time allowing dust particles to adhere to the surface as it dries, giving the surface a rough feel. Murdoch’s Hard Sealer™ used as a final coat, where it is brushed on and then immediately wiped off completely, will leave the surface smooth and without a wet surface to collect dust. It will not lower the sheen in the gloss finishes that have enough coats applied. The perfect end to a perfect finish!
COVERAGE
150-200 sq.ft./quart or 600-800sq.ft./gallon.