Aussie Clear

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

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↓ Safety Data Sheet ↓ Technical Data Sheet

Finish: Clear penetrating oil. No film to peel.
Use on: Mid to dark hardwoods — decks, cladding, fences, furniture
Format: Oil. Brush, roller, spray or dip.
Not for: Treated pine: use Exterior Pine Clear.

Need advice? Call 03 9532 0679.

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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, naturalMerbau · Spotted Gum · Jarrah · Ironbark · Redgum · Western Red CedarAussie Clear — this page

Blond to mid, naturalBlackbutt · Silvertop Ash · Yellow Stringybark · White CypressAussie Clear Light →Treated pine, naturalRadiata & Slash Pine — softwoods need a different oilExterior Pine Clear →Walnut brownAny exterior timber — one designer tone across blond, dark, pine and cedarWalnut Timber Finish →Let it grey naturallyHardwood you want to silver — clear, unpigmented sealerRadial Timber Sealer →

Directions for use

Preparing the timber, then applying

Before you brush

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

Applying the oil

Work it inApply one coat, working it into the timber.
Wipe the excessAny oil still sitting on the surface after an hour should be wiped off. Excess doesn't absorb — it goes tacky.
Let it dryAllow 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 pineHardwood 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.

Breathable

Moisture escapes the timber while liquid water is repelled — so the surface weathers evenly as the colour fades. It also stabilises the timber as it repels moisture, which reduces checking and splitting.

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.

You might also need

Aussie Clear Light

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

View product

Exterior Pine Clear

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

View product

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 →