2 Sources For Rubio Monocoat Finish - My Review

[DerbyDad03]

Leon has been touting the wonders of Monocoat finishes for interior
work and I am about to try it on some outdoor furniture. I will be using
their Hybrid Wood Protector product, which is part of their exterior
product line.

I have learned that https://www.rubiomonocoatusa.com/ is Rubio
Monocoat USA located in Austin, TX, (the actual Rubio company) while
https://www.monocoat.us/ is Special Wood Products out of Oxford, GA.
SWP is (according to Rubio) "a customer of ours and distributor of our
products."

I contacted both companies, starting with Special Wood Products,
because I didn't know about the "real" Rubio until later. I asked them
both the same questions related to my Cedar sectional project, although
by the time I contacted Rubio, I knew a little bit more and was able
to go a little deeper. Once they answered all my questions, I went back to
SWP and asked my deeper questions, getting the same answers in all
cases.

OK, so except for one major difference, I am extremely satisfied with
both companies when it comes to learning about Monocoat. Same
products, same pricing, same level of knowledge and the same willingness
to share that knowledge.

What is that difference I speak of? It's the ability to talk to a live person
at SWP vs. only being able to on-line chat with Rubio. Now, the person I
chatted with at Rubio answered all of my questions, not only about the
product but also explaining who SWP is. While I was eventually able to
type in all my questions and even attach pictures, it's always easier to
get information when talking directly to a live person. I was also able
to share pictures with SWP via email during our live conversation, so
that is a wash.

I'm going to order from SWP on Monday as soon as I figured out how
much I need after trying some more of the samples that they sent me.
Both companies said that I could go as low as 30% colorant/70% Pure
and still get adequate UV protection. Now it's just a matter of how much
color I want. Retaining the color of the raw Cedar is not possible with
any of their products and SWMBO is leaning towards brown, so I'm going
to play with some ratios this weekend and see what makes her happy.

[Leon]

FWIW it may be now manufactured here in the US too. IIRC their video
talks about the original company, in Spain. The product was developed
as family business in the mid 60's IIRC. The business was formed in 1906.

https://youtu.be/W5CL5P3NFjs

[DerbyDad03]

From the USA site https://www.rubiomonocoatusa.com/pages/faq

Where is the product manufactured?
Izegem, Belgium.

From the Belgium website https://www.rubiomonocoat.be/en

CONTACT INFO
Plant 1
Rubio Monocoat Head Office
Ambachtenstraat 58
8870 Izegem (Belgium)

Plant 2
Roeselaarsestraat 535
8870 Izegem (Belgium)

[Leon]

I am always forgetting that Belgium is not in Spain. Oops!

This being a world wide product now I suspect that there are numerous
manufacturing locations.

[DerbyDad03]

The deeper you go, the more you learn.

First, I have verified that that Rubio only has 2 plants, both
in Belgium as stated in their FAQ.

I also discovered that the customer service at Special Hardwood
Products in GA is far superior to Rubio Monocoat USA in TX. Not
only can you talk directly to a live person at SWP, they are willing
to help you determine how much product you need based on your
actual requirements. RMUSA will simply regurgitate the published
spread rates and you are left on your own to tell them how much
product you want to buy.

Jason at SWP was extremely helpful with helping me put together
my order. If you order by phone, the prices are considerably cheaper.
e.g. $131 per liter vs. $159 on-line, $19 per 100ML vs. $25.

When we were done discussing my specific needs, I mentioned to Jason
that I found the customer service at RMUSA to be less than satisfying.
He said that he hears that all the time. Very much surface level. (NPI)
Once you start to get into the details, like I tried, they fail miserably.

SWP is basically "a bunch of flooring guys". They were the first importers
of the Rubio products and have been using the interior stuff for 17 years.
When RMUSA opened their sales office in TX, the guys from SWP trained
their staff.

Another fun fact: On the RMUSA site, they state that you must use 10%
Oil Part B (the accelerator) when using the exterior product on horizontal
surfaces. Jason didn't mention that, so I asked him about it. He said that
RMUSA started pushing that stuff on their website a few months ago. He
called them on it and asked for an explanation. He knows that the accelerator
shortens the cure time of the interior products from 21 days to 5, meaning
that you get maximum water protection more quickly. However, the hybrid
product already has a cure time of only 7 days and in reality, it reaches
maximum water protection in under 48 hours. Not only does the Part B not
actually speed up the water protection cure time, the accelerator is clear, so
it offers no UV protection. That means that you are diluting your UV protection
by that 10% with no offsetting advantage. In addition, it makes refinishing
more difficult because Part B is a hardener which means future application
of the Hybrid oil won't be absorbed as much as without it.

So I placed my order with Jason and hope to start finishing the Cedar for the
outdoor sectional next weekend. I'm going to finish the parts first and then
assemble it once it dries. There are approximately 60 - 70 pieces of 2 x 4's
ranging from ~24" to 55". I'll be using pocket holes for any screws that won't be
exposed and plugs for all others. I like that I can apply the Rubio product on the
plugs without worrying about it not blending in with the surrounding oil. At least
that's what I have been told. ;-)

[Leon]

Good to know. I was surprised that the accelerator was not mentioned
for the out door product.

Anyway, good idea to prefinish before assembly. Much easier and all
the surfaces get treated.


I would also advise to be prudent with how much accelerator you mix, if
you use the accelerator, open time is limited. And if anything like
the interior finishes a little goes a very long way.

Keep us posted with your progress!

[DerbyDad03]

At Jason recommendation, I will not be using the accelerator. There are only
disadvantages.

>
> Keep us posted with your progress!

Luckily, I have to wait for the finish because I have some more cutting to do.
I did a mock-up of the armrests this weekend, mainly to see what a round-over
vs. a chamfer vs. "just leave the cedar as is" looks like. (it has the tiniest of a
round over, *way* less than you sometimes see on SYP 2 x 4's from the borg.)

Turns that we don't like how the armrests looked in general, so we came up with
different design. It changed the height of the legs and requires and extra stringer.
Luckily the legs I already cut can be used as the stringers and I had bought some
extra wood just in case, so I'm all set. Plus, there is no need for a round-over or
chamfer since the existing soft edge works great for the new design.

I just have to keep reminding myself that this is deck seating. It doesn't have to be
perfect. I'm not building a piece of heirloom furniture.

[Leon]

On 8/1/2022 12:47 PM, DerbyDad03 wr

>>
>> Keep us posted with your progress!
>
> Luckily, I have to wait for the finish because I have some more cutting to do.
> I did a mock-up of the armrests this weekend, mainly to see what a round-over
> vs. a chamfer vs. "just leave the cedar as is" looks like. (it has the tiniest of a
> round over, *way* less than you sometimes see on SYP 2 x 4's from the borg.)
>
> Turns that we don't like how the armrests looked in general, so we came up with
> different design. It changed the height of the legs and requires and extra stringer.
> Luckily the legs I already cut can be used as the stringers and I had bought some
> extra wood just in case, so I'm all set. Plus, there is no need for a round-over or
> chamfer since the existing soft edge works great for the new design.
>
> I just have to keep reminding myself that this is deck seating. It doesn't have to be
> perfect. I'm not building a piece of heirloom furniture.

Except for the "how much you are spending" part. ;~)