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Aussie Clear
Deck Care · Timber Finishes

Aussie Clear

Penetrating oil for mid to dark hardwoods. Won't peel, because there's no film to peel.

  • Mid to dark hardwoods
  • Penetrating oil
  • Non-film-forming
  • Brush, roller, spray or dip
  • Not for treated pine

Where to get it

Find a stockist
Australian Made certified Australian made in Cheltenham, Victoria — since 1988

Need advice?
03 9532 0679

Start here

Which one do I need?

Match the timber's tone for a natural look, or pick a colour. Same penetrating oil underneath; only the pigment changes.

Mid to dark, natural Merbau · Spotted Gum · Jarrah · Ironbark · Redgum · Western Red Cedar Aussie Clear — this page
Blond to mid, natural Blackbutt · Silvertop Ash · Yellow Stringybark · White Cypress Aussie Clear Light → Treated pine, natural Radiata & Slash Pine — softwoods need a different oil Exterior Pine Clear → Walnut brown Any exterior timber — one designer tone across blond, dark, pine and cedar Walnut Timber Finish → Charcoal, near-black Any exterior timber — cladding, screens, fences Charcoal Black Stain → Weathered silver-grey Any exterior timber — the aged look on day one Rustic Grey Stain → Let it grey naturally Hardwood you want to silver — clear, unpigmented sealer Radial Timber Sealer →

Directions for use

Preparing the timber, then applying

Before you brush

  1. WAIT New hardwood — wait first New decking needs 4–6 weeks of weathering before oiling. Mill glaze and surface oils stop the finish penetrating.
  2. CLEAN Start dry and clean Surface must be dry and free of dirt, grease and wax. Previously varnished or painted surfaces must be stripped completely.
  3. GREY Deal with weathering Badly weathered, silvered timber should be sanded back or cleaned with Grey Deck Cleaner.

Applying the oil

  1. WORK Work it in Apply one coat, working it into the timber.
  2. WIPE Wipe the excess Any oil still sitting on the surface after an hour should be wiped off. Excess doesn't absorb — it goes tacky.
  3. DRY Let it dry Allow 24 hours. If the timber still looks dry, apply another coat.

Where it goes

Where to use it

Decking, fencing, pergolas, weatherboards, window frames, cladding, fascia, exposed beams and outdoor furniture — anywhere a clear oil-based exterior finish is wanted on mid to dark hardwood.

Not for treated pine Hardwood oils sit on the surface of softwoods. Treated pine needs Exterior Pine Clear, which is engineered to penetrate the porous grain of Radiata and Slash Pine.

What it does

Why it works

Aussie Clear soaks into the timber rather than sitting on it. There's no film on the surface, so there's nothing to crack, peel or blister — the failure mode that eventually gets every varnish and most "decking stains".

Non-film-forming

The oil migrates into the wood fibres. Peeling is physically impossible because there's no film to fail.

Transparent iron oxide UV block

Pigment fine enough to block UV without hiding the grain. On mid to dark timber it reads as clear.

Mould resistance

Breathable

Moisture escapes the timber while liquid water is repelled — the combination that prevents internal rot. It also stabilises the timber as it repels moisture, which reduces checking and splitting.

Specifications

Specifications
Timber tone
Mid to dark hardwood
Finish
Natural oiled, non-film-forming
Coverage
Up to 12 m²/L on dressed timber, 8 m²/L on sawn
Dry time
Wipe excess at 2 hours · 48 hours before foot traffic
Recoat
A second coat after the first 6–12 months of weathering, then as the colour fades
Clean-up
Mineral turpentine
Pack sizes
1 L, 4 L, 10 L, 20 L and 200 L
Made in
Australia

Common questions
Does Aussie Clear peel or flake over time?
No. As a non-film-forming penetrating oil, Aussie Clear stays inside the wood fibres. It can't crack or peel because there's no film on the surface to fail.
Can I use Aussie Clear Light on dark timber?
You can, but not for maximum longevity. Darker timbers like Merbau benefit from the higher pigment density in the original Aussie Clear to hold their colour.
Is it suitable around swimming pools?
Yes. Both Aussie Clear and Aussie Clear Light are highly water-repellent and chemically stable, which suits pool decks and coastal boardwalks.
Can I use it on treated pine?
No — use Exterior Pine Clear. Hardwood oils sit on the surface of softwoods rather than penetrating.
Before you start

Worth reading first

Deck care Why new hardwood needs 4–6 weeks before oiling Read more → Deck care Restoring a grey, weathered deck Read more → The science Why timber changes colour Read more →
Related

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Aussie Clear Light

Aussie Clear Light

The blond-to-mid version — same oil, less pigment, for Blackbutt, Silvertop Ash and Cypress Pine.

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Exterior Pine Clear

Exterior Pine Clear

For treated pine. Engineered to penetrate the porous grain of Radiata and Slash Pine, where a hardwood oil sits on top.

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Grey Deck Cleaner

Grey Deck Cleaner

Strips the grey off weathered timber before you oil it — the prep step that decides how the finish looks.

View product

Australian made in Cheltenham, Victoria since 1988 — founded by two CSIRO timber scientists. The whole story →