A CME WOOD- MAGIC
Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question? Send to  Mike at AWM

Q. Is there anything that can get rid of these Carpenter Bees?
A. YES, There is a product called "Drione" that is available though Acme
    Wood-Magic. It is a dust that is safe enough to put on your dog and cat but let
    me tell you it puts a hurtin on those bees. This is especially effective for
    treating the nests. Check out our section on Carpenter Bees for more details.

Q. Can Men-Wood be applied over other stains?
A. NO. All previous stains and water repellent products must be removed prior to
    applying Men-Wood. This is done by using "Ultra Kleen" and Power Washing.
    Refer to Preparing the Substrate for more information.

Q. I have a brand new home. Does it still need to be pressure washed before I
     stain?
A. YES! Even though it is new wood and perhaps clean in appearance there is a
     film or mill glaze that must be removed by either power washing or sanding.
     This glaze will prevent the Men-Wood or any other product from penetrating
     properly thus causing premature failure of the product and causing the
     homeowner additional expense to remove the product and start over.

Q. I have some areas around knots that are turning white after they dry,
     assuming this is just those areas that are not saturated, does this mean I need
     to keep applying the product until it takes?
A. Generally in New wood, knots are not very absorbent. There for the stain
    tends to sit on top and look shinny. If this is the case there's no point in
    reapplying on those knots as more product will not make it penetrate.  In older
    /aged wood, the knots are the most absorbent part on the log and you could
    put 5 coats on the knots and they will still look as thought they need more. As
    far as white? I' ve never seen knots turn white, I hope that you did not use
    bleach to clean your home and the white you see around these areas are
    residues. This could cause problems with mold .  If you mean bare like they are
    dry, where the stain has penetrated in, then just take a brush and go over the
    knots again. When I'm spraying logs and trim, once the wall is done, as I'm
    coming back down and see the stain has penetrated in I just hit them again.
    Then when I'm back brushing, again. Same thing on the second coat.

Q. I've applied two coats to my home but the front seems much more dried out
     and is soaking up everything I put on it. Should I apply a third coat?

A. If you have followed the application guide lines you shouldn't need a third coat, however...... in some cases when the substrate has been left exposed for a long period of time (5yrs or more) with out adequate protection, a third coat is possible.

What you are experiencing is normal where the south/west sides are dried and tend to be more absorbent and the north/east side a little less absorbent. This is due to two things: (A) the fact that the sun does not get the chance to work on the wood's surface as long as it does on the south /west sides. (B) And because of that the moisture content of the wood is a few percent higher on the north / east sides.
Example:  On a log home I recently did, the Moisture content on the  north /east sides were 16-18% and south / west sides 12-14 %. I used more stain to cover the south / west sides and the north / east sides, but got a uniform look.

Finally a third coat may not penetrate as well because the wood is well saturated with protection already, and if it is "slick and shinny" after curing on the surface, dirt and other airborne substances tend to stick to these areas quicker. Men-Wood is a penetrating product. There is nothing the manufacturer puts in the product to give you the slick or shinny appearance.

Q. Is it absolutely necessary to add additional insecticide and mildewcides in the
    Men-wood stain? Aren't there additives in the product already to protect
    against insects, mold and mildew?

A. To answer the second part of the question first, yes there are insecticides and
    mildewcides added to the product already, however the EPA and other
    regulatory commissions only allow a certain amount of certain additives to be
    used.  Men-Wood and some other manufacturers of stains use the latest
    technology to combat these elements. I suggest that you spend the small
    amount to put the extra mildewcide and insecticide in the top coat, especially if
    you live in an area where it is humid and are prone to insect inhabitation. For
   additional information on mold and mildew I strongly suggest viewing and
   printing out the circular from the National Paint and Coatings Association on
   that subject. Click Here to View
 
 
 
 

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