The Pre-Oiling Service and HABiol Worktop Oil: A Worktop Express® Nutshell Guide

Our pre-oiling service has proved increasingly popular and we have been pleased to be able to supply so many perfectly-finished worktops to our customers; however, as with all our processes, we continually seek to update and improve the level of service we provide. We have recently updated our oiling procedure to use HABiol Worktop Oil which is in line with the excellent quality of Rustins Danish Oil. All fabrication orders despatched from Monday 29th October 2014 onwards will benefit from our new process.

Please read on for more insight…

Our new machinery

Before oiling, our solid wood worktop blanks are sanded to ensure the oil applied is absorbed evenly by the work surface. To prepare the surface and open the pores so that they are even more susceptible to oil penetration, we have recently invested in a new sanding machine to mechanise this process and guarantee a perfect finish every time. We have also invested in an innovative oiling machine which produces a flawless oil finish for every worktop; this automated process applies the optimum amount of oil per square meter in a shorter amount of time, improving both consistency and efficiency.

Our new spiral wrapping machine is the final step: this machine automatically wraps items, protecting the worktops immediately from the elements and providing a durable finish ready for further transport packaging. All pieces are protected with hardwearing cardboard edge protectors.

The Worktop Express® team are confident that these well-tested processes will improve the quality and efficiency of production so that our pre-oiling service is more reliable than ever before.

Pre-Oiling Service

Our new process – in a nutshell

The updated system will encompass various processes, which are briefly summarised as follows:

• Worktops are inspected to ensure that they adhere to our strict quality controls and the worktops are then sanded. A wide belt sander is used for the majority of the worktop, but the edges are sanded with an orbital sander.
• Oil is applied by our oiling machine whilst the edges are oiled manually by our skilled warehouse team.
• Worktops are left to dry.
• A final quality check is completed to ensure our team are happy with the finished results.
• Worktops are added to the rack to be packed and stowed.

Rustins Danish Oil and HABiol Oil: The perfect combination

Rustins Danish Oil is not compatible with our pre-oiling machinery and thus it has been necessary to seek an alternative. After extensive research, our experienced technical team concluded that HABiol Oil was ideal for the pre-oiling service, and achieves an identical finish to Rustins with our automated machinery. Previous oils used were not compatible with Rustins for maintenance purposes, HABiol is fully compatible with both our machinery and with Rustins.

There is no difference between the finish achieved by HABiol Oil and Rustins Danish Oil and both can be used to create a perfectly oiled finish on a worktop. Whilst HABiol will be used in our fabrication facility, we will continue to supply Rustins to consumers.

Rustins Danish Oil

Rustins Danish Oil is one of the most widely-sold products of its kind in the UK and is our recommendation for DIY worktops (all those that will not be fabricated or pre-oiled by us). If you are planning to apply the initial, intensive application of oil yourself, the process is extremely straight-forward – it is an easy material for DIY oiling and future maintenance.

We recommend applying three coats of Rustins Danish Oil to each face of the worktop and six coats to the endgrains and sides (with proper drying time allowed between each) before installation. After installation, oil once a week for the first six weeks and once every three months thereafter.

Quality checks

We have always performed regular quality checks throughout the pre-oiling service. Within our new system, quality control checks will be made at 4 independent points throughout the process:

1. When the worktops arrive at the factory assessments will be made regarding species, quality grade, colour, size, and a visual check for any defects. Any worktops that are not satisfactory will be rejected (a rare occurrence as our timbers are high-quality, but we do not take this for granted).
2. After any fabrication, careful checking will ensure that the dimensions are correct and in accordance with the customer-approved diagram.
3. A third check is completed to ensure that the worktop is ready to go through our sanding process.
4. A final quality check is completed to ensure our team are happy with the finished results.
5. After sanding, the worktop is oiled with HABiol, and a final quality and dimensional inspection is conducted once dry.

The finishing process

After your worktop has been oiled, it is transferred to a specially designed storage area where the oil has a chance to react with the surrounding oxygen. The worktops are left to dry thoroughly to achieve a completely flawless finish. They are then carefully wrapped and prepared for delivery, where a label will be applied to the worktop’s ‘top’ face, which is also referred to as the ‘A’ side. This will distinguish the difference between the top and the bottom side to aid with installation.

Receiving your pre-oiled worktops

Your worktops will require a coat of oil immediately upon installation and should be oiled regularly thereafter. We recommend re-oiling your worktop every week for the first six weeks once fitted. After this, reapply oil once every three months in order to maintain a good finish. Here are some simple instructions for oiling your worktop:

• De-nib the worktop with de-nibbing pads.
• Apply Rustins Danish Oil, spreading it evenly over the surface of your worktop. Leave for approximately 30 minutes, allowing sufficient time for the oil to soak into the timber.
• Wipe away any excess oil using a lint-free cloth.
• Leave the worktop to dry for 24 hours.