Kiln burned wood tar is a natural product used to treat outdoor wood-work. The consistency of the wood tar can be very thick, therefore it can be ideal to leave it in the sunlight for a few hours or place the can in a water bath before use max 40-50 degrees. The heat will make the wood tar more liquid. Alternatively, the wood tar can be mixed with double boiled linseed oil to give it a thinner consistency – that makes it easier to stretch out when tarring.
You must always tar in thin layers, otherwise it will run down the surface. You can treat the surface a maximum of 1-2 layers per season. Wood tar will change the colour of the wood. It will give a light golden colour at first, but as you build up more layers it will get darker and darker. Over time, it will appear almost completely black. Be aware that wood tar gives the wood a strong tar-like smell, which you may need to clarify with your neighbours before starting.
THE PAINTING TOOL: Use a tarbrush for the work and cover areas where the wood tar must not come on. Always wear gloves and goggles and wear long trousers and sleeves to avoid splashes of tar directly on the skin.
SURFACE: Always tar on absorbent surfaces. To give the tar the best binding abilities the wood should be rough sawn.
DRYING TIME: Wood tar never completely hardens. An old tar treatment can become soft and contagious in strong sunlight.