Cutek is an Australian-made timber protection system built for Australian conditions. Unlike stains and varnishes that sit on the surface, Cutek oils soak deep into the wood and protect it from the inside out. There's no film to crack, so they don't flake or peel. Maintenance is a clean and recoat, with no sanding back.
At Hammer Roo we stock the full Cutek prepare-and-protect range. Here's what each product does, how Cutek CD50 and Cutek Extreme differ, and how to get a great result with your decking oil or timber oil.
The Cutek range at a glance
Protect (the oils)
- Cutek CD50 - the original copper-based decking oil for decks, cladding and all exterior timber.
- Cutek Extreme - a copper-free timber oil for interior walls and ceilings, pale timbers and exterior timber.
- Cutek Wood Preservative - an APVMA-registered oil for pre-treating and treating exterior timber. Coated timber resists fungal decay, mould, termites and moisture.
Colour
- Cutek Colourtones 180ml - tints you mix into the clear oils to keep your timber's colour or change it.
- Cutek CD50 Samples - premixed samples for testing a colour on your own timber before you buy.
Prepare and apply
- Cutek Restore - brings back grey, weathered timber and removes tannin, iron and water stains.
- Cutek Quickclean - cleans grease and grime off Cutek-coated timber before a maintenance coat.
- Cutek Wood Stripper - removes paint and old surface coatings so the oil can penetrate.
- Cutek Professional Finish Deck Brush - for applying thin, even coats.
Cutek CD50 vs Extreme: which one do you need?
The names are similar, but these are different products for different jobs.
Cutek CD50 contains copper which is added for termite resistance. It's the go-to decking oil for decks, cladding, fencing, handrails, screens and outdoor furniture. The trade-off is that its small amount of copper salts can leave a faint green tint on very light or white timbers. CD50 isn't suitable for acetylated wood.
Cutek Extreme is copper-free. Cutek formulated it for pale and blonde timbers, so it suits species like Hoop Pine, Hemlock, Tasmanian Oak and Victorian Ash. It works on interior walls and ceilings as well as all exterior timber. You can use one timber oil inside and out and keep the colour consistent through the whole house. Cutek's fact sheet also lists it as suitable for acetylated wood.
Cutek Extreme is copper-free. Cutek formulated it for pale and blonde timbers, so it suits species like Hoop Pine, Hemlock, Tasmanian Oak and Victorian Ash. It works on interior walls and ceilings as well as all exterior timber. You can use one timber oil inside and out and keep the colour consistent through the whole house. It's also suitable for acetylated wood.
The quick rule
- Exterior deck or cladding in typical Australian hardwood: CD50.
- Interior walls or ceilings, pale timber or acetylated wood: Extreme.
- Exterior timber that needs fungal, mould and termite resistance, or a commercial project: Wood Preservative.
None of the Cutek oils are suitable for interior flooring, food preparation surfaces or timber in direct contact with the ground.
Why you need a Colourtone
All Cutek oils are sold clear. Clear oil still protects and stabilises the timber, but outdoors the wood will gradually lighten to a silver-grey patina. Some people want that look. If you don't, mix in a Colourtone.
A Colourtone adds UV colour protection and slows the silvering. Most are matched to Australian species, such as Rustic Gold or Sela Brown for Spotted Gum and Autumntone or Burnt Red for Jarrah. Others change the look completely: White Wash for a Hamptons style, Grey Mist for an instant weathered look, or Black Ash for a charred timber effect.
Mixing guide
- 1 x 180ml Colourtone per 5L can of oil
- 2 x 180ml Colourtones per 10L can
- 4 x 180ml Colourtones per 20L can
For decks, choose the Colourtone closest to your timber's natural colour rather than trying to change it. Always test first. A Cutek CD50 Sample on an offcut of your actual timber is the easiest way to avoid surprises.
Step-by-step: how to use Cutek
Step 1: Prepare the timber
Cutek only works if the oil can soak in, so preparation matters. The timber must be bare, clean, non-greasy and dry, with moisture content under 17%.
- New timber: if it has tannin, iron or water stains, clean it with Cutek Restore first.
- Old, grey or weathered timber: use Cutek Restore to remove the grey and bring back the natural colour.
- Previously painted, stained or coated timber: strip it with Cutek Wood Stripper, then clean with Restore. Machine sanding can also work.
- Timber already coated with Cutek: clean it with Cutek Quickclean before recoating.
Not sure if your timber has a coating? Flick a few drops of water on it. If the water soaks in, you're good to go. If it beads, there's a coating that needs removing.
For a richer colour on new boards, prepare with Restore and a pressure washer, or sand to 80 grit to remove the mill glaze. Clear away all dust before coating.
Step 2: Check the weather
Cutek needs 2 to 3 days of dry weather after coating to soak in properly and give an even colour. Check the forecast before you start. Hot, dry days are fine, because heat helps the oil penetrate. In cold weather the oil thickens, so warm the can in a sunny spot first.
Step 3: Mix
Add your Colourtone to the clear oil. Stir with a flat stirrer, lifting from the bottom, for about 2 minutes. Give it a quick stir every 15 minutes while you work.
Step 4: Apply thin coats
Use a brush or lambswool applicator. Thin coats work much better than thick ones. For best results:
- Coat all faces of the timber before installing it.
- Once that coat has fully soaked in, apply another thin coat or two to the top surface.
Step 5: Wait before recoating
Cutek dries by soaking into the timber, so it can take several days depending on the species, density and weather. The timber is ready for another coat when it's completely dry and no longer greasy. Recoating too soon slows drying and can leave a tacky surface.
Step 6: Clean up safely
Clean brushes with turps or soap and water.
Maintaining your timber
Recoat when the timber stops beading water, or when you want to refresh the colour. Decks and handrails in full weather usually need a maintenance coat after 6 months, then about once a year. Vertical cladding needs it less often.
For a maintenance coat, clean with Quickclean and apply one thin coat of oil. If the timber has greyed or stained badly, use Restore first. Because Cutek oils build up inside the timber, each coat adds to the protection already there.
Is Cutek CD50 the same as Cutek Extreme?
No. CD50 is copper-based and built for exterior timber such as decks and cladding. Extreme is copper-free, so it's suited to pale timbers, acetylated wood and interior use as well as exterior timber.
Can I use Cutek Extreme instead of CD50 on my deck?
Yes, Extreme is rated for exterior timber as well as interior use. Most people choose CD50 for decks because it's the original exterior formula, but Extreme is the better pick if the deck timber is pale or you want to carry the same oil indoors.
Will Cutek CD50 turn my timber green?
Only very light or white timbers can show a faint green tint from CD50's copper content, and it's most noticeable indoors or out of direct sun. On typical Australian decking hardwoods it isn't an issue. If you're working with a pale species, Cutek Extreme avoids the risk altogether.
How often do I need to recoat a Cutek-oiled deck?
Most decks need a maintenance coat after about 6 months, then roughly once a year after that. Recoat sooner if the timber stops beading water or the colour has faded.
Do I need to sand before recoating?
No. That's one of the main benefits of the Cutek system. A clean with Cutek Quickclean (or Cutek Restore if the timber has greyed) is all you need before the next coat.
Get the right products
Shop the full Cutek range at Hammer Roo. For help choosing a product or Colourtone for your project, visit our Loganholme showroom or get in touch with the team.
