OSMO natural oils are high-quality, plant-based oil finishes that can be used for both interior and exterior applications. We love OSMO here at Thor’s Hammer because it makes timber maintenance a dream, and the best part—you don’t have to harm the planet in the process.
Who or what is OSMO?
OSMO is a German timber supplier that also makes a huge range of high quality, non-toxic, ethical and sustainable timber finishes made from naturally harvested oils and hard waxes. Osmo were founded way back in 1878, and they make the best coatings for timber because they fully test them and then use them in production of their own timber products.
Their products are made from a unique blend of all-natural ingredients, including Thistle Oil, Sunflower Oil, and Carnauba Wax. All of their interior products are food safe, and child-friendly, so can be used safely on wooden toys and chopping boards, on top of its many standard applications.
OSMO is designed to let the beauty of the timber shine through, enhancing its colour and grain without any yellowing. The oil penetrates deep into the timber, forming a thin and invisible coating, unlike traditional water-based or polyurethane finishes. This thin coat provides exceptional waterproofing and durability, ensuring long-lasting protection for your timber surfaces.
Why We Love OSMO Oils & Waxes
We have experimented over the years with many different environmentally friendly finishes for our timbers. The Osmo finishes from Germany have proved to be the best. Here’s why:
1. They include all-natural ingredients
OSMO’s commitment to using natural ingredients means you won't find any harmful chemicals in their products. This makes them safe for you, your family, and the environment.
2. They enhance the natural appearance of the timber
OSMO Natural Oils let the timber speak for itself, by bringing out the true beauty of timber. The finishes look natural and don't obscure the wood's natural colours and patterns, and there’s no yellowing.
3. They provide superior protection for timber products
The combination of oils and waxes, and the special way the oils are processed to reduce the particle size, creates a waterproof and durable surface that shields the timber from damage, including watermarks and stains. While the finish achieves full hardness over time, it's essential to take extra care during the first few months of use.
4. They make timber maintenance a breeze
OSMO’s Hardwax Oil produces a surface which will not watermark or stain easily like a traditional oiled finish, ensuring easy upkeep. Unlike conventional lacquers, you won't need to sand the whole area if damage occurs. A simple application of OSMO Liquid Wax Cleaner Spray will often do the trick, or you can recoat after cleaning without sanding back to bare timber. We supply a can of the Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner with all our furniture (included in the cost).
5. They provide really high coverage
OSMO products are concentrated, reducing the need for solvents, and offering high coverage on Australian timbers. This not only speeds up application but also reduces transport costs and environmental impact.
Popular OSMO Products
We offer a range of popular OSMO products off the shelf, which you can come and pick up Monday through Friday, 8 until 5pm, or on Saturdays from 9 until 1pm. We usually have most of the following OSMO products in stock, so come visit our showroom in Griffith (Canberra) to stock up! If you’re out of town, we can ship products to you—get in touch with us to organise this.
1. OSMO Polyx Oil
OSMO Polyx Oil is the most popular OSMO product we stock. It’s an extremely durable Hardwax Oil for flooring, benchtops and furniture, available in clear, satin-matt or matt.
2. OSMO Wood Protector
OSMO Wood Protector is a priming coat for interior applications where there is dampness or high humidity, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
3. OSMO Wood Wax Finish
OSMO Wood Wax Finish has a combination of both oils and waxes, and is ideal for interior joinery like shelving and doors, as well as flooring. It comes in a huge range of coloured stains so you can get creative with the timber look. As with all OSMO products, it’s non-toxic, and therefore can also be used for kids furniture or playpens.
4. OSMO UV Protection Oil
The OSMO UV Protection Oil is a clear finish which is recommended for vertical surfaces, so it is suitable for pergola posts, external cladding and front doors. It’s a two coat system and should always be recoated before it starts to lose colour or deteriorate, as it loses all UV protection as soon as the outside coat has been burnt off by the sun. We generally find that the UV Protection Oil needs a recoat once every 6-18 months - this varies depending how exposed the timber is.
5. OSMO Decking Oil
OSMO Decking Oil is suitable for exterior applications, such as decking and pergolas, and will last longer than the UV Protection Oil - usually 18 to 36 months on vertical surfaces and around 12 months on horizontal surfaces in full sun.
It’s available in a range of stains to give extra protection and to unify the appearance of the timbers. Upon application, you will lose some of the natural variation in the colour, but you can choose a stain colour that matches the natural colour of the timber fairly closely.
6. OSMO Anti-Slip Decking Oil
OSMO Anti-Slip Decking Oil provides a rough anti-slip effect to exterior timber decking (as the name suggests!). It’s also protective against mould and discolouration, and is UV-resistant.
7. OSMO Application Tools
We sell a range of OSMO application products, including:
OSMO floor brush
Osmo microfibre rollers
OSMO Brush Cleaner and Thinner
We highly recommend the Osmo floor brush with telescopic handle for coating floors or for applying decking oil. It means you can do nearly the whole job standing up (except for cutting in by hand near painted walls), and the stiff short bristle and wide brush makes it very easy to spread the Osmo quickly and thinly for minimal waste.
You can store the floor brush wet between coats by wrapping it tightly in a plastic bag overnight. Once the job is finished, clean it with Osmo Brush Cleaner and Thinner, dry with a rag and then wash again with hot water and soap before storing.
How to buy OSMO from us
As the only OSMO supplier in the ACT, we get many DIYers, woodworkers and professionals from around Canberra popping in to stock up on OSMO.
We have a big range of OSMO available now at our workshop and showroom, and we’re more than happy to order products in for you.
Browse the entire OSMO range here, and get in touch with us if you have questions about our stock, or to order something in. Our team can also help you out with advice on the best OSMO product for your job.
Drop in anytime from Monday to Friday 8-5pm, or on Saturdays 9-1pm. You can also call us on (02) 6282 9900 or hammer@thors.com.au.
If you would like to order OSMO products from us, please click the button below to fill out an enquiry form and our team will be in touch with you within two working days. You can come in to pick up the products, or we can ship them out to you. You can also give us a call on 02 6282 9900 between 8 and 5pm Monday to Friday, or Saturdays 9 until 1pm.