WOCA Softwood Lye is a water-based treatment designed to reduce yellowing and preserve the natural light appearance of softwood surfaces. It is used as a primer for unfinished or newly sanded interior timber such as floors, stairs, furniture, and panels, helping to enhance the wood grain while creating a clean whitewashed effect.
Formulated with white pigments, Softwood Lye helps maintain the wood’s original light tones and prevents natural yellowing over time. It is suitable for most softwoods, including pine, spruce, and pitch pine. When applied to larch, it produces a distinctive antique grey-brown finish. This product is not suitable for hardwood surfaces.
After treatment is required with either oil or soap to achieve full protection and final appearance. The final colour development continues to evolve over 1–2 months after application.
Features & Benefits:
- Minimises yellowing of softwood surfaces
- Preserves and enhances light natural wood tones
- Creates a whitewashed appearance
- Contains white pigments for colour protection
- Suitable for pine, spruce, and pitch pine
- Ideal primer for interior timber surfaces
- Must be finished with oil or soap after application
Important:
- For softwood use only (not suitable for hardwood)
- Final colour develops over 1–2 months
- Requires after-treatment for protection
Technical Data:
- VOC: 10 g/L (max VOC content A/g (WB): 30 g/L)
- Density: 1.00–1.10 g/ml
- pH Value: 13–14
- Coverage: 10–12 m²/L
- Application Temperature: +15°C to +25°C (approx. 50% relative humidity)
- Shelf Life: 2 years
- Colour: White
- Packaging Size: 2.5L
Worksteps
The unfinished woodwork must be clean, dry and finely sanded (grit 100-120) before applying the lye.
Always remember to test on a less visible spot to check the compatibility of the surface with the product.
- Shake the container well and pour the Lye into a plastic bucket. It is important that no pigments are left in the container. Stir regularly during the application to prevent the pigments from settling to the bottom.
- Apply an even coat of the lye with the WOCA Applicator, a nylon brush or roller lengthwise along the grain. Apply at least 1 L of lye per 10-12 m²/L of wood. Leave wood to dry for approx. 6-12 hours at 20°C.
- De-nib standing fibres and remove excess pigments with a medium e.g. green or bordeaux, sanding polishing pad. Remove the sanding dust with a vacuum cleaner.
- Finish the wood surface with a WOCA oil or soap.
Softwood Lye can assume a greenish colour, which will disappear in the course of time.
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