There is no doubt that the use of black as a colour on timber is a popular concept. The interesting thing about the use of black however is that each person’s perspective seems to be different. Some people think that black should be jet black, others think of black as a tone, and then when you look at tones, they can be stronger or weaker depending on the application.
Tones and Shades
A jet-black look is interesting, though it can be relatively easy to damage unless you use a good quality coating. On the other hand, a black tone that is buffed into the surface of the timber, and this is something that works with several timbers that are sold in Australia, can give an antique or age look and introduce a very definite style. For some the idea of using black is about concealing grain, for others the idea of using black is a way of emphasising grain and emphasising the distinctive nature of the grain in the timber.
The richness of black for some is important whereas the delicate inclusion of black for others is the requirement. Some want a bold look, some want a modest look. Tints are interesting things to work with because they work in very specific ways.
A tint is designed to penetrate the surface of the timber, so it’s important to differentiate between the idea of putting paint on a wood and introducing a tint. The paint sits on top; a tint is designed to penetrate the timber. That is why some tints simply cannot work with some Australian timbers because we do have several timbers in Australia that are very dense and simply will not absorb tint.
However, there are a good range of lighter coloured timbers in Australia that can accept tint and of course most European light hardwoods will take on tint as they are significantly lighter in weight and lighter in density than the Australian timbers.
Use Osmo to Achieve the Look
So, we always recommend the use of Osmo because Osmo black tints have both solid colours and shades of black. If you work with a shade, you can introduce the colour and if you’re not happy that that’s sufficiently dark you can add a second coat and build the colour up.
Alternatively you can work with a jet black and if you apply it with a roller you’ll simply get a jet black finish but if you decide to apply it with a roller and then buff it with a white buffing pad on a slow speed buffer you will get a very even tinted look to the timber that will provide even timbers as hard as West Australian Jarrah with a nice antique overall look.
Basically, Osmo is a range of oils from Germany that give you the level of versatility that you use when you are producing a timber floor. Essentially with Osmo, it gives you so much choice that you don’t feel that the project is out of your control.
If you want a very light touch of black a grain highlighting finish or a dense intense black treatment Osmo has a product that will do the job. Each product delivers a very high quality finish highlighting the natural charm and integrity of the timber while accommodating your specific preference when it comes to the overall look and of course you get the legendary durability and the ease of maintenance that comes with all Osmo Hardwax oil finishes. So, a strong recommendation and a few points to think about.
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