A pre-treatment such as Pre-Aging or PreColour is applied before Oil Plus 2C to create specific colour effects, deeper tones or a reactive-look finish without the drawbacks of reactive stains. They allow full creative control because the colours can be mixed, while still ensuring perfect molecular bonding between the finish and the wood.

A successful application always starts with sanding the wood scratch-free and removing all dust. The pre-treatment is then applied evenly and in a saturated way, using the appropriate tool for the surface type. After drying, the raised wood fibres must be broken before finishing with Oil Plus 2C.

Pre-Aging typically requires about 24 hours of drying time, while PreColour needs around 12 hours between each application step. The exact time depends on the wood, temperature, humidity and ventilation. Good airflow is essential for proper drying.

Always make a test sample on identically sanded and prepared wood to determine the correct colour. When using multiple containers on one project, mix them together to guarantee colour uniformity. Work wet-on-wet to avoid overlapping marks, and be aware that resinous woods may show small white stains as a natural reaction.