Clear Wood Preservative
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Timber Protection

Clear Wood Preservative

Clear penetrating preservative for above-ground timber — protects against borers, termites and fungal decay without a green tint. Paint over it once it's dry.

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500 mL, 2 L, 4 L, 10 L, 20 L and 200 L Schedule 5 — CAUTION APVMA 60812

↓ Safety Data Sheet

Protects against: Borers, termites and fungal decay in the treated timber
Use on: Dry, above-ground timber — best before it's fixed
Format: Clear solvent-based liquid. Flood-brush, inject or dip.
Not for: Ground contact: use In-Ground Paste. Damp timber.

Not sure it's the right product? Compare preservatives or call 03 9532 0679.

Directions for use

Preparing the timber, then applying — as per the approved label

Structural or load-bearing timber? Veranda posts, bearers, joists, rafters: get a qualified professional to decide whether it can be treated or needs replacing. Preservative stops decay spreading; it can't restore lost strength.

Before you brush

Bare timber onlyIf the timber has been painted or varnished, remove the old coating first — Clear Wood penetrates the wood, so it can't get in through a finish.
Make sure it's dryThe product works best on dry timber. Wet timber repels it and the treatment won't be effective.
Do the cutting firstAll cutting, drilling, moulding and planing should be done before treatment, and components treated before joining or fixing.

Toxic to beesThe label warns the product is toxic to bees. Take care around hives and flowering plants — relevant if you're treating beehive or garden timber.

Applying the preservative

Always read the label before use.

Flood-brush, inject or dipApply by flood brushing, direct injection into affected areas, or a one-to-two-minute total dip. Spraying is not recommended.
One coat, often enoughOne coat may be sufficient in most cases. If a second is needed, allow at least 24 hours between coats. Touch dry within about 2 hours.
Overcoat, if you wantOil-based paints, primers and stains after 3 days (fine weather) or a week in cool weather. For acrylics, prime with an oil-based primer first.

Application rate

Coverage per coat.

Rate	Coverage
1 litre per coat	4–8 m²

Rate varies with timber species, moisture content and surface condition. Reapply every 6–12 months if exposed and unpainted; longer if coated over. Clean up with mineral turpentine.

CAUTION · As per the approved label

Safety & hazards

Signal word, restraints and first aid — from the approved label

As per the approved label. Always read the label before use.

Schedule 5 — CAUTION

May irritate eyes and skin. Toxic to bees.

May irritate the eyes and skin. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. Wash hands after use.

First aid

If poisoning occurs, contact a Doctor or Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26). If swallowed, do NOT induce vomiting — give a glass of water.

Full safety directions and first aid are on the product label and the Safety Data Sheet.

Handling & environment

Preschem handling guidance — general advice, not label text. The approved label and the Safety Data Sheet take precedence.

Handling

Use impervious (PVC) gloves and sensible work clothing; avoid breathing mist or vapour; wear eye protection when working overhead or where splashing may occur. Ensure adequate ventilation, especially in enclosed spaces. Over-exposure to solvent vapour may cause dizziness, nausea or headaches — if these occur, cease work and move to fresh air. Wash hands and face with soap and water after use.

Flammability

Flammable liquid (UN 1306, low flash point). Do not smoke or use near open flame. Store with the lid firmly closed, away from heat, out of reach of children.

Environment

Toxic to fish and to bees. Do not use where drips or spillage could contaminate ponds, streams or waterways. Do not use to treat beehive boxes.

Disposal

Do not pour down drains or into waterways. Absorb excess onto sawdust or waste wood and bury. Crush empty containers and dispose of per local regulations.

Where it goes

Above-ground timber you want protected but not coloured

For above-ground timber and structures — anywhere you need insect and decay protection but can't have a green tint, and the timber is dry. Best applied before the timber is joined or fixed.

Fencing & pergola timbersAbove-ground structural timber used outside in weather-exposed situations.

Outdoor furnitureUsed outside — where a green tint would show and a clear treatment matters.

Borer in furniture & joineryDirect injection into affected areas, or flood-brushed over the piece.

New timber before assemblyDo cutting, drilling and planing first, then treat components before joining — the label's recommended order.

Timber to be painted or stainedA clear preservative undercoat that won't fight the finish colour on top.

Near plants, animals or peopleSafe for timber in contact with plants or animals, and on frequent-contact surfaces.

Protection without the colour

Why it works

Where the copper preservatives leave a green tint, Clear Wood uses zinc and permethrin instead — so it protects timber against insects and decay while staying essentially clear. It penetrates into the wood rather than sitting on top as a coating.

Stays clear

Zinc-based, not copper — so no green stain. It may slightly darken some timbers, but there's no colour to work around.

Borer, termite & decay

Listed against auger, powder-post and furniture beetles, drywood and subterranean termites, and fungal decay in above-ground timber.

Penetrates, then paints over

Soaks into the timber rather than coating it. Once dry it takes oil-based paints, primers and stains — acrylics over an oil-based primer.

Technical data

Specifications

Active constituents

20 g/L zinc (Zn) present as zinc naphthenate · 1 g/L permethrin (25:75) · solvent 834 g/L hydrocarbon liquid.

Protects against

Insect borers — auger beetles (Bostrychidae), powder-post beetles (Lyctidae), furniture beetles (Anobiidae). Termites — drywood (Cryptotermes) and subterranean (Coptotermes, Schedorhinotermes). Fungal decay. Above-ground situations.

Rate, coverage & reapplication

1 litre per 4–8 m² per coat. One coat often sufficient. Reapply every 6–12 months if exposed and unpainted; longer if coated with paint or stain. Ready to use — no mixing.

Pack sizes

Available in 500 mL, 2 L, 4 L, 10 L, 20 L and 200 L.

Poison schedule

Schedule 5 — CAUTION. May irritate eyes and skin. Toxic to bees.

APVMA registration

APVMA 60812. Distributed by Thomson White Australia.

Storage & shelf life

Flammable liquid. Store in a secure place with the lid firmly closed and away from heat sources. Keep out of reach of children; keep the lid closed when not in use.

Common questions

Will it change the timber's colour?

Not the way a copper preservative does. Clear Wood is zinc-based, so there's no green tint — it stays essentially clear. It may slightly darken some timbers, but there's no colour to work around.

Will it stop termites?

Clear Wood Preservative is a surface/penetrating treatment for the timber it's applied to — not a barrier or a colony treatment. It's listed for borer, termite and decay protection of treated timber, but an active infestation is a job for a licensed pest controller.

Can I paint over it?

Yes. Oil-based paints, primers and stains can go on after 3 days in fine weather, or about a week in cool weather. For acrylics, put an oil-based primer down first.

Is it safe near bees, plants or animals?

The label allows treated timber in contact with plants or animals, and on surfaces people touch frequently. But the product is toxic to bees — take care around hives and flowering plants when you're applying it.

How often do I need to reapply it?

Every 6–12 months where the timber is exposed and unpainted; longer if it's been coated with paint or stain. The label describes this as short-term protection, so it's a maintenance product rather than once-and-done.

You might also need

Heavy Oil Preservative

The heavy-duty copper alternative — a heavier oil that stays on the surface, more waterproof and longer-lasting for trade work.

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No-Rot Gel

For rot you can already see — a boron gel that works on damp timber and diffuses into the wood.

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