December 29, 2017 Karly Labruzzo

SPEKVA OIL- PROTECT YOUR WOOD TOPS!

Nothing compares to a wood counter top. Spekva Worktops have been in business since 1968, and through unique craftsmanship and quality service, they have met their motto "More Than A Surface." You may have invested in a beautiful, custom made wood top by Spekva, or you may have gotten it elsewhere. But when it comes to protecting your investment, no other oil does it better than Spekva's oil.

Spekva oil is made up of linseed oil and three waxes: Carnauba, Paraffin and Bee's wax. Not only is this 100% food safe. It is absolutely necessary to provide a "protective" barrier for your wood top. The linseed oil penetrates the top, and the wax creates a wax finish which will provide a beautiful waterproof barrier.

What is included in the Spekva oiling kit at DirectSinks.com?

Wood Block (Polish Cushion) with red velcrow
Reddish Brown Pad (Sticks to velcro on the block and is used to apply oil)
White Pad (Sticks to the velcro on the block and is used the next day to polish the top)
180 & 240 Grit Sand Paper (Sticks to velcro block and is used for light sanding)
A 16 ounce bottle of Spekva Oil

When should you oil your top?

Oil once a week for the first month to saturate the top.
After top is saturated, oil it once a quarter or when needed.
You will notice after several oilings that the top will not absorb the oil as quickly once it become saturated.
You cannot over oil your top.
Make sure to wipe all excess oil off the top or it will dry and become sticky.
The oil is your "protective" barrier. This is why it is very important to properly maintain your top with the Spekva Oil.
It is best to oil your top before going to bed. It will take 30-40 minutes to oil and wipe off the excess oil. The top can then dry for 8 hours as you sleep.

How do I know if my wood top has been saturated enough?

When your top becomes saturated it will have a nice even look with a light waxy finish.
Remember! Different wood species may take longer to get saturated.
Walnut takes a couple more oilings to get fully saturated and will appear "blotchy" until it becomes fully saturated.
Bubinga is a very dense wood and takes a couple of more oilings to become saturated and will appear "Blotchy" as it becomes saturated.

How do I know my wood top needs oiling?

You will get to know your top by sight and touch to determine when it needs to be oiled.
You can also do the water test. Put a small amount of water on the top. If the water beads up and you can push the bead of water around the top, it does not need to be oiled. [Think of a waxed car]. If the water does not bead up and starts to absorb into the top, then the top requires oil.
Glass Ring Marks- you may get these marks from condensation from glasses when your top is not fully saturated. If this happens take the red pad with some oil on it and rub the area where the ring is. This should remove it. If you are getting these rings, it is in an indication that your top is not fully saturated.

Step by Step Instructions for Oiling Your Wood Top.

Cleaning- Wipe down the top with a cotton cloth to remove any dirt before oiling. Use soap suds with water only. DO NOT use harsh abrasive cleaners or bleach on the work top.
Attach the Oiling Pad- Attached the reddish brown pad to the block. Shake the bottle of oil to disperse the wax in the oil which may have settled to the bottom of the oil bottle.
Pouring the Oil- Slowly pour oil onto the work top. You can also pour some directly onto the red pad. Please note that the oil can pour out quickly. Be careful not to get the oil on your clothes or floor.
Working the Oil- Disperse the oil throughout the work top. The red pad helps to work the oil into the top. Work the block in the direction of the wood grain. Make sure you use enough oil that you are able to work it into the top.
Sink Edge- Apply oil to the sink cut out. Do this first when you begin to oil the top. You can then keep going over it as you oil other parts of the top. This is your main water area and you want to make sure that is is fully protected.
Edge Detail- Apply oil to the edge detail. This may work better with a saturated cloth on ornate edge details.
Endgrain- The "endgrain" of the wood will absorb very quickly and always require more oil. Always start with the sink cut out and the "endgrain" areas first so you can go back and work in more oil as you oil the rest of the top.
Oiling the Underside- You only have to oil the underside of the wood top of it is an open area for seating. The underside only needs to be oiled twice. Do not worry about the underside of any areas that are covered by cabinets.
Wait 15 Minutes- After you have worked the oil into the entire top, let it site for 15 minutes. When you come back after 15 minutes you will notice that different areas or different staves have absorbed the oil more than others. Work the excess oil on the top back over these areas and over the entire top. Do not add any additional oil. Let stand for another 15 minutes.
Wipe off Excess Oil- After 15 minutes take a cotton cloth and wipe off all excess oil. Make sure to wipe off all edge details and cut outs. Notes: It is very important to wipe off all the excess oil. Any oil that is left on the top will dry and become sticky because of the way in the oil.
"Dry Sticky Oil"- If you accidentally left excess oil on the top and it dried and became sticky you can do the following: If it is a small area, take the red pad with a small amount of oil on it. Apply pressure to the area with red pad and rub in the direction of the grain. If the entire top is sticky it will require a light sanding or use of a cabinet makers scraper to remove the sticky residue.
Let Dry for 8 hours- Once you have removed the excess oil, give the work top a light buffing with a clean cotton cloth. Do not use for the next 8 hours. This will allow the top to dry. If you oil the top at night it can dry (8 hours) as you sleep.
Polish- After 8 hours take the "White Pad" and attach it to the block, or use a cotton cloth and give the top another quick buff. Just like shining your shoes. As the top becomes saturated small amounts of oil will seep back up to the surface of the top. Simply buff this oil back into the top.
Read to Use!- Your top is not ready to use! Remember that not only does the oil bring your top back to life, but it is also the protective barrier that will keep you top looking beautiful for years to come. You can never over oil your top, however, remember to wipe off the excess oil Enjoy your Spekva Oil!

Use Spekva oil to keep the warranty valid. Use it on any and all wood tops, cutting boards, heavily used wood furniture, or custom made pieces for a beautiful, natural finish!

Filed in: Bead, Bee's Wax, butcher block top, Carnauba Wax, cleaning, Crown Custom Imports, cutting boards, directsinks, DIY, how to, Kitchen, Linseed Oil, Maintenance, Paraffin Wax, Saturated, Spekva Oil, Wax, Wood Tops, worktops

Previous article WINE LOGIC IN-CABINET 18 BOTTLE WINE RACK - PRODUCT REVIEW

Frequently Asked Questions About Kraus

Kraus has been, and continues to be, one of our most recommended brands for several reasons. The Kraus product quality is consistently high. On par and often exceeding the finish, features, and styles of brands priced a lot higher. Speaking of which, the brand is priced extremely well. Kraus’ popularity has grown exponentially and demand for their sinks and faucets is not slowing down. This leads us here: Questions and Answers about Kraus that, we at DirectSinks, are asked quite often. If you have other questions not mentioned below, please call, email, or stop in!

Kraus was founded in 2007. They are headquartered in Port Washington, NY.

Really good actually! The majority of Kraus Kitchen Sinks are made of 16-gauge stainless steel, which is more than adequate regarding thickness of the metal. The sinks have a generous amount of undercoating and padding which results in a very quiet sink. The faucets are very well made and easy to install. We recommend their products to our own friends and family, and we also have their sinks, faucets, and accessories in our own homes.

Kraus' Full Warranty can be seen here

We Summarized the Kitchen Sink and Faucet Info Below

Faucet Warranty - Lifetime Limited Warranty

Kraus USA Plumbing, LLC (“Kraus”) extends this warranty to the original purchaser for personal household use of the Faucet when purchased from an authorized Kraus dealer and in the location of original installation. This warranty is non-transferable.

Kraus warrants the structure and finish of the Faucet to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for as long as the original purchaser resides in the residence in which the Faucet was first installed.

Kraus warrants the Faucet's sprayhead assembly (including the engine, aerators, structure, restrictors, back flow preventers, sprayer hoses, braided supply line hoses which encompasses nylon, silicon and stainless steel) of the product to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase.

Kraus warrants the Faucet's cartridge to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase.

Any product reported to the authorized dealer or to Kraus as being defective within the warranty period will be repaired or replaced with a product of equal value at the option of Kraus.

Kitchen Sink Warranty - Lifetime Limited Warranty

Kraus USA Plumbing, LLC (“Kraus”) extends this warranty to the original purchaser for personal household use of the Kitchen Sink when purchased from a Kraus authorized dealer and in the location of original installation. This warranty is non-transferable.

Kraus warrants the structure and finish of the Kitchen Sink to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for as long as the original purchaser resides in the residence in which the sink was Kitchen Sink was first installed.

Any product reported to the authorized dealer or to Kraus as being defective within the warranty period will be repaired or replaced with a product of equal value at the option of Kraus.

Absolutely. If you call their offices, they actually pick up. If you write in, they respond.

Business Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 8:00pm (EST)
Address: 12 Harbor Park Drive Port Washington, NY 11050
Call: (Kraus Customer Service): 1-800-775-0703
Text Kraus At: (631) 212-0703 (Message and data rates may apply.)
Email Kraus Directly:Info@KrausUSA.com

Not normally. First, if you dig into the internet deep enough, you will find a complaint about every sink brand and rust.
Kraus is often mentioned simply because of the popularity of the brand.
Most frequently, something that looks like rust shows up in the first few weeks after the sink is installed.
Why? During the countertop fabrication process a very fine dust is created (like sawdust from wood, but very fine). If this dust is on the sink after installation and gets wet, it may show oxidation on the surface of the sink.We see this as the most common cause. Typically after the sink is thoroughly cleaned after installation, no stains will show up. Another situation that can cause a stain or mark is if something is left in the sink and it's wet, especially flatware, pots and pans, and steel wool. The composition of your water can also contribute to this. Water with high iron content will leave stains frequently.

Really great information about this can be found here, at Bar Keepers Friend

Kraus typically has the items shipped in 2-3 days. Most items will ship with UPS from their New Jersey warehouse. Some small items, such as faucets or accessories may ship out of their N.Y. location.

No, unfortunately our clients can not pick up from Kraus

DirectSinks will often have various faucets and sinks at our location. Generally, these items are stocked for our local clients such Kitchen and Bath Designers, Builders, and Countertop fabricators. If you are on Long Island and want to pick up something from us, please call first. We do not keep stock of everything. Please call and ask before making the trip!

Normally, you won't find Kraus on display. However, exceptions are out there. We have several Kraus faucets and sinks on display in our Cabinet Showroom. Some of our local Kitchen and Bath clients also show some various Kraus items.

Observations and Opinions

	Kraus	Ruvati	Advantage
Overall Quality	Excellent	Excellent	Both Great
Warranty	Limited Lifetime	Limited Lifetime	Both Great
Availability	Low out of stock issues. Pre-Order from inbound shipments available Out of stock items shipped earlier than expected	Low out of stock issues Pre-Order from inbound shipments not available Out of stock items shipped when expected	✓ Kraus
Customer Service	Consistently Excellent with Great Communication	Inconsistent & lack communication	✓ Kraus
Style & Design	Vast Selection of Kitchen Sinks and Faucets Decent, but more common bathroom sink designs	Vast Selection of Kitchen Sinks, No Faucets Large Varity of Bathroom Sink Options with many unique options, including stainless steel. No Bathroom Faucets	✓ Kraus if you need a Kitchen Sink & Faucet ✓ Ruvati if you are looking for a Bathroom Sink
Value and Price	30" Small Radius Undermount Sink KHU100-30, Standard Online Price $329.95 Often has Sales. In this exact example, the Kraus sink has been on sale for less than the Ruvati	30" Small Radius Undermount Sink RVH7300, Standard Online Price $299.00 Infrequently has Sales	Can go either way. Kraus often has sales that bring this example to their advantage Check the current pricing with the links below: Kraus KHU100-30 Ruvati RVH7300