Charcoal Black Stain

A charcoal-black stain for rough-sawn timber that gives cladding, screen boards and weatherboards the Japanese shou sugi ban burnt-wood look straight from the tin. Water-based polyurethane, very low VOC, and it washes up in water.

Find a stockist

↓ Safety Data Sheet ↓ Technical Data Sheet

Finish: Charcoal-black water-based polyurethane stain. Very low VOC.
Use on: Rough-sawn timber: cladding, screen boards, weatherboards
Format: Brush, roller or rag. 24 hours between coats.
Not for: Dressed or sanded timber used outdoors

Need advice? Call 03 9532 0679.

Directions for use

Preparing the timber, then applying

Before you brush

Clean and dryMake sure the timber is clean and dry.
Pick the dayApply between 10 °C and 35 °C, and not on a day when rain is expected within 24 hours of application.
Test the colourSpecies, and green versus kiln-dried timber, change how the stain takes. Try an offcut or a hidden board before doing the lot.

Applying the stain

Mix thoroughlyThe pigments settle in storage, so mix thoroughly before use.
Brush, roller or ragApply with a brush, roller or rag.
24 hours between coatsIf one application is not enough, allow 24 hours before the next.
Clean up in waterWash brushes, rollers and applicators in water.

Gloves and safety glassesMay cause an allergic skin reaction. Wear protective clothing, gloves and safety glasses, and avoid breathing vapour or spray. Read the Safety Data Sheet before use. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting; seek medical help (Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26).

Where it goes

Rough-sawn cladding, screens and weatherboards

Rough-sawn hardwood or softwood, inside or out, wherever an instant rustic finish is the look.

CladdingRough-sawn boards on a facade, hardwood or softwood.

Screen boardsScreens built from rough-sawn boards.

WeatherboardsNew boards, or existing rough-sawn weatherboards.

Landscaping timbersRough-sawn timber in the garden.

Inside, tooThe data sheet covers interior as well as exterior use.

Commercial pre-treatmentOiling and coating machines, for pre-treating rough-sawn timber in bulk.

Not for dressed or sanded timber outdoorsSmooth (dressed) or sanded timber used outside is not a good match. The stain lasts longer and is easier to maintain on rough-sawn timber.

Made for rough-sawn timber

Why it works

Charcoal Black is one of Preschem's Rough Sawn Timber Stains. They are water-based polyurethanes for rough-sawn hardwood and softwood that give it an instant rustic look and still let it read as natural timber.

Green or kiln-dried

Suitable for new or existing rough-sawn timber, whether unseasoned (green) or kiln-dried.

Water-based, very low VOC

A water-based polyurethane. Brushes, rollers and applicators wash out in water.

Runs through a coating machine

Freshly coated timber can be wet-stacked without pieces sticking together or blemishing as it cures in the pack, so there is no need for drying racks or drying equipment.

Specifications

Type: Water-based polyurethane stain, very low VOC
Colour: Charcoal black
Timber: Rough-sawn hardwood or softwood, green or kiln-dried
Use: Interior and exterior
Coverage: Typically 9–11 m²/L, varying with species and whether the timber is green or kiln-dried
Recoat: 24 hours between coats, if a second is needed
Apply at: 10–35 °C, with no rain expected for 24 hours
Clean-up: Water
Pack sizes: 1 L, 5 L, 10 L and 20 L
Shelf life: 18 months stored cool and out of direct sunlight. Protect from freezing (store above 5 °C).
Classification: Not scheduled; not a dangerous good for transport
Made in: Australia

Common questions

Can I use it on dressed or sanded timber?

Not outdoors. The data sheet rates it not ideal for dressed or sanded timber used externally. It lasts longer and is easier to maintain on rough-sawn timber, which is what it is made for.

Is it an oil?

No. It is a very-low-VOC, water-based polyurethane stain, and it washes up in water. Preschem's penetrating oils, such as Walnut Timber Finish, are a different product.

Does green timber need to dry out first?

No. It is made for green (unseasoned) as well as kiln-dried rough-sawn timber. The timber does need to be clean and dry when you apply it.

Can it go through a coating machine?

Yes. Mix it thoroughly first. A dry brush roller ahead of the machine removes sawdust, which would otherwise clog filters, pumps and lines. Set the nozzle flow and the feed rate to coat the timber properly, and only run between 10 °C and 35 °C. Coated timber can be wet-stacked straight away; wait at least 24 hours before wrapping the pack in plastic.

You might also need

Rustic Grey Stain

The same rough-sawn stain in a sun-weathered grey.

View product

Walnut Timber Finish

For dressed timber: a dark, walnut-brown penetrating oil.

View product

Aussie Clear

For dressed hardwood: the natural-tone penetrating oil.

View product

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