Waterlox Corp.

Waterlox Original Tung Oil Finishes Provide Protection for Larry Daniel’s Residential Master Bath Remodeling Project

2012-02-14T12:13:00.025-05:00

The one thing that Larry Daniel had been used to reading on his “honey-do” list was master bath remodel. In Larry's words, his master bathroom had been “stuck in the ‘80s.”

Larry’s wife had been patiently awaiting a new master bathroom so when the time came to tackle the project, she had some magazine articles, pictures and examples with the ideas she had in mind for the look and feel of the remodel.

“My wife is the one that had seen an article and pictures of a bathroom in Architectural Digest Magazine where someone had used wood around the tub,” he said. “For the remodel, we decided to make the tub surround and vanity top out of Walnut. Since this project was in the bathroom, we wanted a product that not only protected it, but also enhanced the wood’s beauty too.”

After doing quite a bit of Internet research on Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes (www.waterlox.com), Larry went to his local paint store, Askew-Taylor Paints, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and shared the scope of his project. Askew-Taylor Paints has carried and sold Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes for many years. They agreed that Waterlox would provide the protection Larry and his wife were looking for as well as bring out the natural beauty of the wood.

“Waterlox made the Walnut tub surround and counter top in our bathroom remodel look really rich and beautiful and I decided to use it anywhere I could in the remodel,” he said. “It highlights the grain of the wood and it makes it really warm in appearance. The Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish was so easy to use; I just applied it and let it dry. I hate painting but this was so DIY friendly it was really easy to use.”

Larry also decided to make a teak corner “shower caddy” and finished it with Waterlox’s Marine Finishing System. “Even the really nice and expensive shower caddies that are on the market today have to be hung on the shower arm and don’t look very nice,” Larry added. Larry cut strips of teak and slipped them into a 3/8” stainless steel channel in one corner of the shower for all their shower essentials (Waterlox suggests being diligent about removing any soap or shampoo that comes in contact with the shelves as these will soften the finish). “Of course my wife uses two out of the three shelves!” laughs Larry.

The couple was so impressed with the performance of Waterlox, they used the leftover product they purchased to seal the front door of their home, which had been fading over the years. “We’ve got a teak front door, kind of an Asian design with several inlaid panels,” he added. So I sanded, cleaned and applied the Waterlox products as described in the Waterlox Marine Finishing system guide on Waterlox.com. It looks tremendous,” said Larry. “I really look forward to using Waterlox again in the future. It’s a great product with endless applications and uses.”

Waterlox resin-modified Tung oil-based finishes are different from other types of wood finishes on the market and offer a “best of both worlds” alternative. For example, raw oils penetrate into the wood but will not provide any real protection to the substrate and will need to be recoated often due to oxidation.

Surface finishes such as urethanes (either water or oil-based) will lie on top of the surface, look more like plastic, can be brittle and once breached will fail. The reason we are the best of both worlds is because Waterlox’s resin-modified Tung oil formation penetrates like raw oil, but protects and nurtures the wood without being brittle and having the plastic look of surface finishes.

About Waterlox
Founded in 1910, Waterlox Coatings Corporation, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the nation’s leading manufacturer of premium wood finishes, handmade from resin-modified Tung oil. A fourth-generation, family-owned company, now run by Chief Executive Officer Jay Hawkins and Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox continues to manufacture products using the finest ingredients, combining Tung oil, resins, mineral spirits and other ingredients to produce a complete wood finish that gives the look and feel of naturally oiled wood. Waterlox products represent the flooring industry’s highest level of quality protection for both interior and exterior wood finishing projects and also supply tools for application.

For more information about Waterlox, please visit www.waterlox.com or call (800) 321.0377. Also, Like Waterlox on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @tungoilfinishes.

HistoricalSalvage.com Depends on Waterlox Original Tung Oil Finishes

2012-01-11T11:29:00.001-05:00

In Monroe, Virginia, Mario Halkyer’s firm, HistoricalSalvage.com, has a firm grasp on the restoration market. Halkyer specializes in using materials from buildings slated for demolition or destruction for renovation and remodeling projects, including flooring, furniture and more.

According to Halkyer, the types of structures he is able to “salvage” wood from ranges in a wide variety.

“We’ve pulled from just about every type of structure that was about to be dismantled, from houses and barns to sheds, cabins and historic buildings,” Halkyer said. “It’s really been our focus to take the wood from meaningful buildings – historic or not – and repurpose it so that we’re able to save a little on the environment but also salvage the memories of those buildings by reusing them in other forms.”

HistoricalSalvage.com does just about all types of wood-focused projects, Halkyer said, from custom flooring, hand-hewn or rough sawn beams, to mantels and hand-made furniture. And with all of his projects over the last 25 years, he’s had a chance to use a variety of different sealers and finishes.

“I use Waterlox because it’s a great product that always does the job for me,” Halkyer said. “It brings out the real natural color of a wood and it soaks in to seal it in a way that most products can’t. It’s one thing to be reclaiming salvaged woods but to be able to protect them and make them look the way they did yesteryear, that’s important. And that’s why I use Waterlox Original Tung Oil finishes.”

Waterlox resin-modified Tung oil-based finishes are different from other types of wood finishes on the market and offer a “best of both worlds” alternative. For example, raw oils penetrate into the wood but will not provide any real protection to the substrate and will need to be recoated often due to oxidation.

Surface finishes such as urethanes (either water or oil-based) will lie on top of the surface, look more like plastic, can be brittle and once breached will fail. The reason we are the best of both worlds is because Waterlox’s resin-modified Tung oil formation penetrates like raw oil, but protects and nurtures the wood without being brittle and having the plastic look of surface finishes.

About Waterlox
Founded in 1910, Waterlox Coatings Corporation, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the nation’s leading manufacturer of premium wood finishes, handmade from resin-modified Tung oil. A fourth-generation, family-owned company, now run by Chief Executive Officer Jay Hawkins and Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox continues to manufacture products using the finest ingredients, combining Tung oil, resins, mineral spirits and other ingredients to produce a complete wood finish that gives the look and feel of naturally oiled wood. Waterlox products represent the flooring industry’s highest level of quality protection for both interior and exterior wood finishing projects and also supply tools for application.

For more information about Waterlox, please visit www.waterlox.com or call (800) 321.0377. To visit Waterlox on Facebook, click HERE, or you can follow Waterlox on Twitter at @tungoilfinishes.

Media Contact:
Ed DeMask / DeMask Marketing
630-768-1404, cell
630-389-0572, office
ed@demaskmarketing.com

Waterlox Donates Product to Virginia Tech University for its Farmer's Market Community Project

2011-12-13T10:41:00.003-05:00

At Virginia Tech University, the School of Architecture + Design’s design/buildLAB is designed to give students a real-world experience by developing and carrying out projects that literally are a part of the community.

Professor Keith Zawistowski, along with his wife Marie, also a professor at Virginia Tech, led the students in 2011 on a magnificent journey of community restoration and invigoration.

According to Zawistowski, the goal of the course is “to teach students the skills necessary to confront the design and realization of architecture projects, with a consciousness for social and environmental issues. By removing the abstraction from the making of architecture, the course engages students’ initiative and encourages them to ask fundamental questions about the nature of practice and the role of the architect.”

The students studied farmers markets all around the areas near their university and found one in Covington that could truly use a rehab.

“The neighboring town to Covington is Clifton Forge and there was an old sawmill converted to tire retreading facility and the local organizations got together with county government to move the facility out to an industrial park,” he said. “Then they bought it out and they wanted to develop it to a park, so our students dismantled the old saw mill and that wood became the ceiling of the farmer’s market.”

In a town where the residents are dominantly employed by one local manufacturer, new buildings and architectural projects are rare, to say the least. But the new farmers market gave the entire community a new 150-foot-wide by 30-foot-wide overhang under which they could gather each week.

“It’s the most prominent building in town and the first new one in town, so it stands out,” he said. “It’s a very agrarian material palate, it’s designed with the materials you’d expect in a barn so it’s great for a farmer’s market because while aesthetic its agrarian look appeals to everything in the area.”

The entire project depended on donations and grants to make it happen. With a budget of $150,000, products and services were both donated. To seal the wood ceiling on the project, Waterlox donated several gallons of Waterlox Original Sealer / Finish to the university.

“The students donated their time to make it happen for the community and it relied very heavily from donations from companies like Waterlox,” he said. “We’re extremely happy with the Waterlox because it will allow the wood to age naturally as it’s already an antique project.

“If you put polyurethane on it then it would’ve had a plastic look but Waterlox allows it to age natural and get more beautiful with age. It reveals the nature color of the wood instead of a high sheen. It lets the wood be wood.”

In addition to the quality of the project being solidified by using Waterlox, Zawistowski says the students involved in the project learned about the corporate citizenship aspect of public projects as well as they were able to use a product that had no learning curve.

“Beyond the quality there’s the idea of Waterlox being a good corporate citizen, which helped make the project happen,” he said. “They just gave it to us and that’s awesome. The other thing about Waterlox is that it’s very easy to use because it’s a self-leveling product. You don’t need to be careful putting it on you can roll it on and go. There’s no special training needed so it was definitely easy for the students to apply.”

Waterlox resin-modified Tung oil-based finishes are different from other types of wood finishes on the market and offer a “best of both worlds” alternative. For example, raw oils penetrate into the wood but will not provide any real protection to the substrate and will need to be recoated often due to oxidation.

Surface finishes such as urethanes (either water or oil-based) will lie on top of the surface, look more like plastic, can be brittle and once breached will fail. The reason we are the best of both worlds is because Waterlox’s resin-modified Tung oil formation penetrates like raw oil, but protects and nurtures the wood without being brittle and having the plastic look of surface finishes.

Waterlox finishes penetrate into the pores of the wood and build up to a film that protects and nurtures the wood; and on top of all that are easier to restore and re-coat.

For more information about Waterlox, please visit www.waterlox.com or call (800) 321.0377. To visit Waterlox on Facebook, click HERE, or you can follow Waterlox on Twitter at @tungoilfinishes.

PHOTO: © Jeff Goldberg / ESTO

Media Contact:
Ed DeMask / DeMask Marketing
630-768-1404, cell
630-389-0572, office
ed@demaskmarketing.com

U.S. Department of State Building “Protected” by Waterlox as Universal Floors Brings Out the Natural Look in its Historic Floor

2011-10-24T15:55:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Only a few blocks from The White House in the nation’s capitol, the U.S. Department of State is headquarters for the country’s diplomatic missions abroad and for implementing foreign policy.

Its offices at the Harry S. Truman Building are adorned with beautiful hardwood floors that are a welcome to visiting dignitaries and are home to numerous meetings every month to ensure our policies overseas are carried out as planned.

Sprigg Lynn, principal officer for Washington, D.C.-based Universal Floors, was the one responsible for restoring the floors of the Diplomatic Reception rooms and bringing them back to their natural, beautiful appeal.

“We had a tremendous opportunity to work with the government at the State Department’s facility and we chose to use Waterlox to protect the floors because it provides a strong natural bond that becomes a part of the wood floor,” said Lynn. “The pictures really are a thousand words in this case, the before and after images tell the entire story.”

Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish was used, both for its drying abilities and the fact that Tung oil brings out a remarkable appearance that other products cannot match.

“It was truly a tremendous honor to be working on these floors, knowing how many foreign and domestic dignitaries will see the work we did for years to come,” Lynn added. “The floors are beautifully crafted and over time, like any floor, they needed to be restored. Waterlox was the perfect product because it delivers long-lasting protection while enhancing the wood’s appeal.”

Waterlox resin-modified Tung oil-based finishes are different from other types of wood finishes on the market and offer a “best of both worlds” alternative. For example, raw oils penetrate into the wood but will not provide any real protection to the substrate and will need to be recoated often due to oxidation.

Surface finishes such as urethanes (either water or oil-based) will lie on top of the surface, look more like plastic, can be brittle and once breached will fail. The reason we are the best of both worlds is because Waterlox’s resin-modified Tung oil formation penetrates like raw oil, but protects and nurtures the wood without being brittle and having the plastic look of surface finishes.

About Waterlox
Founded in 1910, Waterlox Coatings Corporation, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the nation’s leading manufacturer of premium wood finishes, handmade from resin-modified Tung oil. A fourth-generation, family-owned company, now run by Chief Executive Officer Jay Hawkins and Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox continues to manufacture products using the finest ingredients, combining Tung oil, resins, mineral spirits and other ingredients to produce a complete wood finish that gives the look and feel of naturally oiled wood. Waterlox products represent the flooring industry’s highest level of quality protection for both interior and exterior wood finishing projects and also supply tools for application.

For more information about Waterlox, please visit www.waterlox.com or call (800) 321.0377. To visit Waterlox on Facebook, click HERE, or you can follow Waterlox on Twitter at @tungoilfinishes.

Media Contact:
Ed DeMask / DeMask Marketing
630-768-1404, cell
630-389-0572, office
ed@demaskmarketing.com

Universal Floors Restores Historic Floor using Waterlox at Virginia’s National Sporting Library & Museum

2011-09-19T00:39:00.000-04:00

MIDDLEBURG, Virginia – In the heart of beautiful Virginia horse country sits a legendary facility dedicated to equestrians, field sports and the arts.

The National Sporting Library & Museum, founded in 1954, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the literature, art, and culture of equestrian and field sports. The not-for-profit Museum recently expanded with an addition and overall they have expanded to become an important research facility and art museum with over 17,000 books and works of art in the collections.

A major part of the renovation was taking the floors and making sure they were restored to meet the aesthetic needs of the facility, overall. According to Sprigg Lynn, principal officer for Washington, D.C.-based Universal Floors, the project was truly “historic” in every way.

“They had a beautiful museum that they expanded as well as another old historic building, and basically the expansion quadrupled the size of it,” Lynn said. “But it was all done to look like it was from the 1700s and since we had the original floors we had to do a lot of hand scraping and light sanding before we finished it.”

Once the floor was ready to be finished, the only product that Lynn would consider for such an important application was Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish.

“Waterlox brings out the original character of the wood and when it dries it literally becomes a part of the wood, rather than a surface on top of it. That’s why we use it whenever possible. It takes the rich appearance that Tung oil brings out by using Waterlox to protect and showcase floors like these,” Lynn added.

The institution, open to the public, offers free lectures on equestrian and field sports and the John H. Daniels Fellowship program supports scholarships and shares information through exhibits, seminars, publications and special events.

Waterlox resin-modified Tung oil-based finishes are different from other types of wood finishes on the market and offer a “best of both worlds” alternative. For example, raw oils penetrate into the wood but will not provide any real protection to the substrate and will need to be recoated often due to oxidation.

Surface finishes such as urethanes (either water or oil-based) will lie on top of the surface, look more like plastic, can be brittle and once breached will fail. The reason we are the best of both worlds is because Waterlox’s resin-modified Tung oil formation penetrates like raw oil, but protects and nurtures the wood without being brittle and having the plastic look of surface finishes.

Waterlox finishes penetrate into the pores of the wood and build up to a film that protects and nurtures the wood; and on top of all that are easier to restore and re-coat.

About Waterlox
Founded in 1910, Waterlox Coatings Corporation, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the nation’s leading manufacturer of premium wood finishes, handmade from resin-modified Tung oil. A fourth-generation, family-owned company, now run by Chief Executive Officer Jay Hawkins and Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox continues to manufacture products using the finest ingredients, combining Tung oil, resins, mineral spirits and other ingredients to produce a complete wood finish that gives the look and feel of naturally oiled wood. Waterlox products represent the flooring industry’s highest level of quality protection for both interior and exterior wood finishing projects and also supply tools for application.

For more information about Waterlox, please visit www.waterlox.com or call (800) 321.0377. To visit Waterlox on Facebook, click HERE, or you can follow Waterlox on Twitter at @tungoilfinishes.

To learn more about the National Sporting Library & Museum, visit www.nsl.org.

Media Contact:
Ed DeMask / DeMask Marketing
630-768-1404, cell
630-389-0572, office
ed@demaskmarketing.com

Contest: Send Us Your Unique Upcoming Project and We'll Donate a Gallon of Waterlox Original Sealer / Finish!

2011-08-02T21:58:00.001-04:00

SPECIAL NOTE: Contest deadline has been extended to Sept. 10th!

Our "fans" and clients have been so generous in sharing their completed project photos with us throughout the years that we decided to offer a different type of "contest."

Contest details: Please submit a description of your upcoming unique project (30-50 words or more), including photos, by September 10, 2011. Waterlox will judge the submissions based upon the following characteristics (not necessarily in this order): 1. Project use; 2. Species of wood; 3. Design elements; 4. Green Build elements 5. Historical / Special Story elements.

First place winner will receive 1 gallon of our Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish (or the value thereof toward other Waterlox products) and a Waterlox T-shirt in their size; Second and Third place winners will receive a Waterlox T-shirt in their size. All winners will be expected to document the use of Waterlox in their project throughout the length of the project, which should be completed by November 30, 2011.

We are excited to offer this contest to our clients; creativity will be rewarded! E-mail Kellie Hawkins Schaffner at khawkins@waterlox.com today! All entries due by September 10, 2011.

The Peery Family Discovers a Piece of Italy in East Texas

2011-08-02T21:51:00.000-04:00

In his search for the perfect Italian home, Terry Peery found the ultimately imperfect wood floor.

For two years Peery and his wife Donna had been designing and building their dream home in Tyler, Texas, a suburb about halfway between Dallas, TX and Shreveport, Louisiana.

Peery said it was their dream to not only make the home feel Italian but feel rustic and lived-in. Altogether; they have 2,600 square feet of wood floors in the home.

“It’s our personal home and we love Italy so we wanted to build an authentic Italian farm house with old stone, stucco, etc. and so we designed it that way,” he said. “We wanted this to really be authentic so we wanted the wood floors to match.”

According to Peery, they couldn’t get a contractor in Texas to offer them the same type of lived-in look that they wanted. Many offered to scrub the surface of the wood planks they were using but that wasn’t to his liking.

“I was online searching for some type of way to finish the floors. We wanted that old, hand-rubbed lustery look that comes with time and age on the floors and we couldn’t get anyone in Texas to apply anything but traditional products; and that’s not the look we wanted,” Peery said.

“I looked at several gallery photos on the Waterlox.com website and knew instantly that that’s what I wanted. We used the Waterlox Original traditional finishing system and it turned out great, and exactly like we wanted.

Both wood working professionals and do-it-yourselfers have used Waterlox products because Waterlox produces a unique wood finishes line even amongst others who use Tung oil in their formulations. Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes are resin-modified Tung oil based wood finishes; and, because they are resin-modified Tung oil finishes, they penetrate into the pores of the wood and form a film that is water-resistant, elastic and stands up to foot traffic and common household spills.

The difference between standard products and Waterlox Original Sealer / Finish can be found simply be walking on it, according to Peery.

“You can tell the difference just by walking on the different finishing systems in bare feet,” he said. “When you walk on a urethane finished surface, it’s like walking on a plastic hard surface, but with Waterlox Original, it’s like walking on the wood; it has a totally different feeling to it. You can tell it has soaked into that wood because it’s softer and more natural.”

Waterlox finishes are different from other types of wood finishes on the market and offer a “best of both worlds” alternative. For example, raw oils penetrate into the wood but will not provide any real protection to the substrate and will need to be recoated often. Surface finishes such as urethanes (either water or oil-based) will lie on top of the surface, look more like plastic, can be brittle and once breached will fail. The reason we are the best of both worlds is because Waterlox penetrates like raw oil, but protects and nurtures the wood without being brittle and having the plastic look of surface finishes.

Waterlox finishes penetrate into the pores of the wood and build up to a film that protects and nurtures the wood; and on top of all that are easier to restore and re-coat.

About Waterlox
Founded in 1910, Waterlox Coatings Corporation, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the nation’s leading manufacturer of premium wood finishes, handmade from natural Tung oil. A fourth-generation, family-owned company, now run by Chief Executive Officer Jay Hawkins and Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox continues to manufacture products using the finest ingredients, combining Tung oil, resins, mineral spirits and other ingredients to produce a complete wood finish that gives the look and feel of naturally oiled wood. Waterlox products represent the flooring industry’s highest level of quality protection for both interior and exterior wood finishing projects and also supply tools for application.

For more information about Waterlox, please visit www.waterlox.com or call (800) 321.0377. To visit Waterlox on Facebook, click HERE, or you can follow Waterlox on Twitter at @tungoilfinishes.

Woodworker Frank Klausz Depends on Waterlox for Quality, Protection

2011-07-15T16:54:00.000-04:00

In the world of woodworking, Frank Klausz is a legend. The Pluckemin, New Jersey master woodworker has been a significant factor in the industry for more than 50 years.

Klausz writes articles for trade journals and travels throughout North America giving woodworking seminars to professionals looking to learn from the best. His clientele has included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Christine Todd Whitman, Malcolm Forbes and Ester Johnson, of Johnson and Johnson, as well as the New Jersey State House, the Newark Museum, Zimmerly Art Museum and hundreds of private and public corporations and residences.

Educated in Hungary and a graduated journeyman in 1959, Klausz launched his own company in 1972, Frank’s Cabinet Shop, crafting everything from reception desks and conference tables to furniture reproductions including Queen Anne, Chippendale, Shaker and Egyptian pieces.

Regardless of the client or the piece, Klausz depends on one name to protect the quality, integrity and luster of his woodworking pieces – Waterlox.

“The Waterlox amber color brings out the beautiful color of the mahogany and that’s really one of the biggest reasons why I use it and why I suggest others do, as well,” Klausz said.

“Waterlox protects the quality of wood and I prefer to use it because of the Tung Oil finish,” he added. Images of Klausz’s woodwork are available for viewing on his web site at www.frankklausz.com.

Klausz shows off his jewelry box at his seminars, a great example of how Waterlox protects original, hand-crafted woodwork. The reception he gets from it is so positive that he has to touch up the top every two or three years from woodworkers handling it. (Touch ups are easy to do with Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish and sanding to bare wood to do so is not required.)

“I lean heavily on Waterlox because it really brings out the color in wood, many times I’m looking to enhance that beautiful amber color and that’s how I’m able to do it,” Klausz said. “Most of my furniture pieces are finished with Waterlox. Most of my personal residence, including my kitchen is also finished with Waterlox.”

Klausz and many other wood working professionals have used Waterlox products because Waterlox produces a unique wood finishes line even amongst others who use Tung oil in their formulations. Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes are resin-modified Tung oil based wood finishes; and, because they are resin-modified Tung oil finishes, they penetrate into the pores of the wood and form a film that is water-resistant, elastic and stands up to foot traffic and common household spills.

Further, Waterlox finishes are different from other types of wood finishes on the market and offer a “best of both worlds” alternative. For example, raw oils penetrate into the wood but will not provide any real protection to the substrate and will need to be recoated often. Surface finishes such as urethanes (either water or oil-based) will lie on top of the surface, look more like plastic, can be brittle and once breached will fail. The reason we are the best of both worlds is because Waterlox penetrates like raw oil, but protects and nurtures the wood without being brittle and having the plastic look of surface finishes.

Waterlox finishes penetrate into the pores of the wood and build up to a film that protects and nurtures the wood; and on top of all that are easier to restore and re-coat.

About Waterlox
Founded in 1910, Waterlox Coatings Corporation, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the nation’s leading manufacturer of premium wood finishes, handmade from natural Tung oil. A fourth-generation, family-owned company, now run by Chief Executive Officer Jay Hawkins and Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox continues to manufacture products using the finest ingredients, combining Tung oil, resins, mineral spirits and other ingredients to produce a complete wood finish that gives the look and feel of naturally oiled wood. Waterlox products represent the flooring industry’s highest level of quality protection for both interior and exterior wood finishing projects and also supply tools for application.

For more information about Waterlox, please visit www.waterlox.com or call (800) 321.0377. To visit Waterlox on Facebook, click HERE, or you can follow Waterlox on Twitter at @tungoilfinishes.

Media Contact:
Ed DeMask / DeMask Marketing
630-768-1404, cell
630-389-0572, office
ed@demaskmarketing.com

Robert L. Hawkins Jr., Retired President and CEO of Waterlox Coatings Corporation, Passes Away Leaving a Family Legacy Behind

2011-06-16T11:40:00.001-04:00

Robert L. Hawkins Jr., the retired 2nd generation President and CEO of Waterlox Coatings Corporation and son of its founder, passed away at the age of 89 at home of natural causes early Saturday morning, June 11th leaving a strong family legacy behind.

RL Hawkins Jr. was the 2nd generation of family to own and manage Waterlox , which was started in 1910 by his father, R.L. Hawkins, Sr. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 16 at 11 am at the McGorray-Hanna Funeral Home of Lakewood, 14133 Detroit Ave. where friends may call Wednesday 2-4 and 6-8 pm. Interment is at Lakeview Cemetery.

In recent years, Waterlox has been run by Chief Executive Officer, Jay Hawkins – the son of RL Hawkins, Jr. – and Vice President, Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, his grand-daughter.

“My father was not only a kind and generous man but he was a pioneer in this industry”, said Jay hawkins. RL Hawkins, Jr began working at the company when he was age 15 in the 1930’s, he became a member of the Board of Directors in 1948, acted as the Executive Vice President heading the research department in the 1960’s, and took over the company as President / CEO until his retirement in 1992. Since his retirement he continued as a technical consultant to Waterlox.

“My father continued his father’s legacy of developing coatings for the automotive industry”, said Jay. “He will be sorely missed by his colleagues, friends and especially our family.”

Waterlox’s founder, RL Hawkins, Sr., developed the black paint for the floor boards of Ford’s Model T and RL Hawkins, Jr., developed and held patents for a revolutionary coating and process used in the production of rubber mats used in automobiles and later in over-the-road trucks. This process allowed the color coat and mat to be cured together in a mold. Special care was taken by RL, Jr. in color matching the rubber to the latest automobile color trends.

RL Hawkins, Jr. was a long-time resident of Bratenahl, OH and a long-standing member of Mayfield Country Club participating in curling and golf, the Hermit Club participating in the men’s choir and acting as club photographer, Mentor Harbor Yacht Club participating in sailboat racing (Dragon and 40” Alden boats) and was a World War II Army Air Force Veteran where he served his country in aerial reconnaissance. He was a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and many Cleveland-based business consulting organizations including the Business Advisors of Cleveland. He held a Masters of Science Degree from the Case School of Applied Science in both chemical engineering and industrial chemistry and was a member of Beta Theta Pi.

RL Hawkins, Jr. was the beloved husband of Gloria (nee Merreck); loving father of Robert L. Hawkins III (Joan), Ann Stevens Rody (Harold), John W. “Jay” Hawkins (Dee) and step father of William (Mary) and James (Marie) Boswell, Brian (Gina), Paul Conor (Sharon) and Christopher W. (Cyd) Donohue; dear grandfather of 12 and great grandfather of 11; brother of the late Mary Kathryn Robertson and Betty Ann Stafford. The family suggests memorial contributions to The Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 East 185th St., Cleveland, Ohio, 44119.

About Waterlox
Founded in 1910, Waterlox Coatings Corporation, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the nation’s leading manufacturer of premium wood finishes handmade from natural Tung oil. A fourth-generation, family-owned company, now run by Chief Executive Officer, Jay Hawkins and Vice President Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox continues to manufacture products using original family formulations, combining Tung oil, resins, mineral spirits and other ingredients to produce a complete wood finish that gives the look and feel of naturally oiled wood.

Waterlox products represent the flooring industry’s highest level of quality protection for both interior and exterior wood finishing projects and also supply tools for application. For more information about Waterlox, please visit www.waterlox.com or call (800) 321.0377.

Media Contact:
Ed DeMask / DeMask Marketing
630-768-1404, cell
ed@demaskmarketing.com

Featured Craftsman -- Universal Floors

2011-04-13T13:19:00.000-04:00

When it comes to wood flooring in and around the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.-based Universal Floors, Inc., has quite the reputation.

Having worked inside iconic structures such as the White House and Library of Congress, Universal Floors recently refinished the floors of two historic D.C. area buildings – one, a residence turned commercial space, and the other, a private library. Each endeavor earned Universal Floors a 2009 Floor of the Year Award from the National Wood Flooring Association. Both also involved using Waterlox premium wood finish.

Sprigg Lynn, Principal Officer for Universal Floors, said, “choosing Waterlox was easy because we used it on several floors prior to these two. We had a library and a commercial space to refinish, and both owners wanted to maintain the original old-world feel the buildings still possessed,” Lynn said. The commercial space won Best Restoration – hand cut category in the 2009 Floor of the Year Contest.

“The owners of the property wanted the building to maintain the hand-rubbed look already seen in the space, which Waterlox products are known to achieve,” Lynn said. The original wood flooring featured in the library project, initially selected to be discarded and replaced, was beautifully restored using Waterlox, winning Universal Floors the award for Best Library/Office – hand cut category in the 2009 NWFA Contest.

Marine Case Study -- USS Constellation

2011-03-17T01:03:00.002-04:00

When the United States Navy launched the USS Constellation in 1854, it carried a band of 325 sailors and crew. Today, the ship plays host to over 100,000 visitors annually, who come from around the world to experience the beautifully restored vessel at the USS Constellation Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

When Paul Powichroski, Marine Superintendent at the USS Constellation Museum, began working to restore the 156 year-old ship’s interior, he turned to the premium wood finish trusted by wood craftsmen for nearly a century.

“I first used Waterlox over 20 years ago,” Paul said. “I chose to use Waterlox on the USS Constellation restoration project because it allows the original appearance of the wood to be replicated accurately, giving it a true historic appearance.”

Paul, who is currently working on what he calls the “small boat restoration project,” says he plans to use Waterlox on all seven of the small watercrafts that will be constructed as part of the undertaking. “I enjoy using Waterlox because it is easy to use and maintain, along with the fact that it is very forgiving,” Paul said.

To learn more about the ship's history, visit Historic Ships.

THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND AS A PAINT AND VARNISH HUB

2011-02-08T10:50:00.000-05:00

AN INDUSTRIAL LEADER ON LAKE ERIE

To a large degree, the growth of Cleveland and much of what exists here today can be attributed to its industrial base. The United States was an early leader and Cleveland a major center of industrialization. Strategically located, Cleveland developed because it offered one business benefit few other commerce centers at the time could – access to different transportation networks. The development of shipping on the Great Lakes and the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1832 gave the city a major advantage. In the 1850s, a growing network of railroads enhanced Cleveland’s potential as a transportation hub, giving it easy access to coal and oil from the east and south. These modes of transportation allowed Cleveland to receive a large flow of raw materials and to ship out finished products. As a result, Cleveland's paint and varnish industry began to develop after the Civil War, in response to the emerging shipbuilding, oil, iron-and-steel, machine-tool, and automobile industries.

STANDARD OIL CO. SPAWNS OTHER INDUSTRIES IN CLEVELAND

The success of Standard Oil had a profound impact on Cleveland. It all started when John D. Rockefeller bought into a small oil company in 1863. Seven years later, Rockefeller transformed it into the Standard Oil Co and quickly captured the bulk of the industry through aggressive acquisitions of smaller companies. Once Rockefeller established his company as an industry giant, other businesses that supplied and relied on oil flocked to Cleveland in the hopes of cashing in on Standard Oil’s dominance.

Cleveland’s chemical industry arose in part out of the oil refiners’ need for sulfuric acid. In 1866, Eugene Ramiro Grasselli built a plant in Cleveland to manufacture the sulfuric acid needed by the city’s growing number of oil refineries. Grasselli’s new plant was conveniently located on the Cuyahoga River, adjacent to his major customer, Rockefeller’s refinery.

Rockefeller built or purchased almost all of Cleveland’s refining capacity in the 1870s and made the city the center of the American refining industry. Relying on petroleum products for their raw materials, Cleveland’s large paint and varnish companies were founded.

By the time Rockefeller moved to New York in 1885, Cleveland had been transformed from a merchant village to a roaring industrial hub filled with steel, shipping and chemical companies. The presence of chemical manufacturing in Cleveland paved the way for local manufactures to start producing paints. So in part, the Cleveland paint and varnish industry can thank Rockefeller for its birth.

THE PAINT AND VARNISH INDUSTRIES ARISE IN CLEVELAND

Two of Cleveland's important paint industries emerged to supply the growing construction, shipbuilding, machine tool, and automobile industries. Over the years, countless local companies contributed to Cleveland evolving as the center of the American paint and varnish industry, some of which are still here today, such as Waterlox Coatings Corporation.

THE BIRTH OF WATERLOX COATINGS CORPORATION

Waterlox, a pioneer in the development of the coatings industry, was started in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1910 by R.L. Hawkins, Senior. He became involved in the industry as a Secretary and National Sales Manager of The Ohio Varnish Co. However, being an independent problem solver, he left that endeavor, and bought a small paint making operation named the Empire Varnish Company located on East 76^th and Woodland, which would later become Waterlox Coatings Corporation. His new business discovered the values of tung oil and used it to create the specific formulations necessary to produce a full line of interior and exterior paints, varnishes, enamels and stains.

The Waterlox name originated with a promotional group in Detroit. In the 1930s, Empire Varnish acquired “Waterlox” and its business plan from the group, including the philosophy behind the product, its applications and range of possibilities. Empire Varnish took all of this newly attained information and applied it to its existing formulas to mark a pivotal point in the company’s history, one that made its Waterlox product what it is today.

R.L.’s son, Bob, also joined the company in the 30’s when he began working in the plant during the summer at age 15. Bob, who would later earn degrees in both chemical engineering and in industrial chemistry, eventually took over the company in the 1940’s. In the 1960’s, the Empire Varnish Company became Waterlox Chemical and Coatings Corporation. This decision was made because Waterlox, the company’s star product, was what it was best known for. In fact, everyone had already been calling them Waterlox.

Over the years, Waterlox expanded its production to manufacture a variety of products, from interior house paint and paint for car running boards to a penetrating sealer, gym floor finish, marine finish and outdoor wood finish. Bob even invented coatings for the rubber mats used in automobiles, as well as a revolutionary process in which the color coat and mat were all cured together in a mold.

Proud to own a Cleveland-based business, the Hawkins family could not see any advantage in doing business anywhere else. “The best part of doing business in Cleveland is location, location, location,” said Bob. The city is fairly central in the country making it ideal for receiving raw materials and shipping final products. However, in 1963 Waterlox did move to the Passonno Hutcheson building on Meech Avenue, which remains its location today.

In the 90’s the company’s name changed again, from Waterlox Chemical and Coatings Corporation to Waterlox Coatings Corporation, as it remains today.

Still based in Cleveland, Waterlox is the nation’s leading manufacturer of premium wood finishes, handmade from natural tung oil. A fourth-generation, family-owned company, now run by Chief Executive Officer Jay Hawkins and Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox continues to manufacture products using the finest ingredients, combining tung oil, resins, mineral spirits and other ingredients to produce a complete wood finish that gives the look and feel of naturally oiled wood. Waterlox products represent the flooring industry’s highest level of quality protection for both interior and exterior wood finishing products and supply tools for application. For the most part, the company still makes its hand-made wood finishes the exact same way it did 100 years ago.

PAINT AND CHEMICAL COMPANIES EMERGE: SHERWIN-WILLIAMS, GLIDDEN PAINT, AND HARSHAW CHEMICAL CO.

In addition to Waterlox Coatings Corporation, other significant paint and chemical companies emerged in Cleveland – companies that made major contributions to shaping the industry as well as the city itself.

Henry Sherwin, Edward Williams and A.T. Osborn partnered in 1870 to form a paint manufacturing company, in Cleveland, called Sherwin Williams, & Co. Today, the Sherwin-Williams Company is the largest producer of paints, varnishes, and specialty coatings in the United States. Its corporate headquarters are still located here in Cleveland.

America's third largest paint brand also began in Cleveland and still bears the name of one of its founders, Francis Harrington Glidden. It all started in 1870 with the formation of the Glidden Varnish Co., which supplied coatings to the growing railroad car-building industry. While AkzoNobel owns the Glidden name today, the paint brand still dominates the American household consumer market.

Harshaw Chemical Co. was founded by William Harshaw as the Cleveland Commercial Co. in 1892 to deal in chemicals, oils, pigments and dry colors - many of which were consumed by paint and varnish manufacturers. After a few name changes, the firm became the Harshaw Chemical Co. in 1919. The company remained in Cleveland until 1988, when a specialty chemical and metallurgical maker from Oakland, CA purchased it.

A CLEVEALND-BASED INDUSTRY EVOLVES

In 1927, a Cleveland Trust (local bank) billboard located in downtown Cleveland proclaimed that it financed “Paint and Varnish, Cleveland’s Leading Industries.” But Cleveland’s paint and varnish industry grew to be far more than that. This industry in Cleveland evolved from a homegrown one serving local manufacturing industries to an internationally diverse enterprise. Over time, the paint and varnish industry’s viability in Cleveland went from being based on proximity to natural resources and areas of product demand to that of availability of a skilled research workforce and viable facilities. Over the years, countless local companies contributed to Cleveland being the center of the American paint and varnish industry, some of which are still here today, such as Waterlox Coatings Corporation. These companies not only defined an industry, but they helped make Cleveland what it is today.

Waterlox Interviewed on "The Money Pit" Radio Show

2011-01-19T12:35:00.009-05:00

Waterlox Coatings Corporation (www.waterlox.com) was featured in January on the nationally syndicated radio program “The Money Pit,” as Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner is interviewed about the company’s commitment as the nation’s leading provider of premium wood finish handmade from natural Tung oil.

To listen to the interview, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbR90y_QWgY

The Money Pit (www.themoneypit.com) is a nationally syndicated, call-in radio show that helps listeners with their home repair and improvement problems. The show, hosted by Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete, has consistently been named among “America's 100 Most Important Radio Shows” by Talkers magazine. It's been on the air for over ten years, and is now carried on over 250 radio affiliates across the nation, as well as on XM satellite radio.

Featured Craftsman -- Artisans of the Valley

2010-12-07T13:20:00.000-05:00

The “microbrew of wood finishes,” meant for handcrafted pieces of wooden art that go beyond everyday mass produced wood products. That’s how Eric Saperstein, Master Craftsman at Artisans of the Valley Hand Crafted Custom Woodworking in Pennington, New Jersey, describes Waterlox premium wood finish. So when it came time to finish some of his proudest solid white oak pieces from Artisans of the Valley’s New Wave Gothic line, choosing a wood finish was easy.

“These Gothic pieces will be around long after I’m gone,” Eric said. “They need a finish that will last as long as they do.”

Eric prefers Waterlox to lacquer or polyurethane finishes for a number of reasons.

“Waterlox lasts years beyond lacquer and polyurethane finishes, which can color and fall off,” Eric said. “Waterlox is a flexible finish that will expand and contract with a piece over time, unlike other finishes.”

More importantly, Eric says, he trusts Waterlox as the finish he puts on what he considers investment pieces.

“Artisans of the Valley is a custom shop and we consider our work to be heirloom quality,” Eric said. “Many of our pieces see an annual increase in value. It’s furniture you can pass down to your kids. It’s why we use Waterlox.”

HISTORY OF TUNG OIL: THE KEY TO THE WATERLOX PRODUCTS OF TODAY

2010-12-01T13:41:00.012-05:00

WHAT IS TUNG OIL AND WHERE ON EARTH DOES IT COME FROM?

Tung oil is made from pressed seeds from the nut of the tung tree. The tung tree, native to China, is named for its heart-shaped leaves because “tung” is Chinese for “heart.” In the 14^th century, Chinese merchants were noted for using tung oil to waterproof and protect wooden ships from the eroding powers of the sea. There are even mentions of tung oil appearing in the writings of Confucius in around 400 B.C. For these reasons, it is also sometimes referred to as “China wood oil.”

Pure tung oil is considered a drying oil much like linseed, safflower, poppy and soybean oil and is known to have a slightly golden tint. Tung oil, which is actually a vegetable oil, is considered the best penetrating drying oil available due to its unique ability to wet the surface, allowing it to penetrate even the densest woods. Unlike linseed oil, it will not darken with age.

Although Tung oil is a superior drying oil, Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes differ because they are resin modified. Therefore, resin-modified Tung oil is what makes our finishes superior to others.

WHAT DOES A TUNG TREE LOOK LIKE?

It is a small deciduous tree that grows up to 40 feet tall with smooth bark and a branchy head. Its leaves are dark green and glossy with blades 3-13 inches wide. The tung tree has flowers that range in size from 1-3 inches in diameter with petals that are white tinged with red and yellow. Each nut or fruit contains 3-7 large seeds.

HOW DOES A TUNG TREE GROW?

The tung tree’s official botanical name is Aleurites fordii. It thrives in moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil. These hearty, fast growing trees mature to bear fruit in their third year and yield commercial quantities at four to five years of age. Maximum production occurs in the tenth to twelfth years of growth, with trees expected to be commercially productive for at least 20 years after optimum production has occurred.

In the Northern Hemisphere, tung tree nuts grow in clusters and fall to the ground from late September through November. The fruits and are left for a few weeks to dry and cure. Tung oil is produced by harvesting these nuts and separating the nuts from their hard outer shells. Then the transparent oil is squeezed from the seeds inside.

Dried and pressed nuts yield about twenty percent oil. Under favorable conditions an acre of tung trees will produce about two tons of tung nuts and yield about 100 gallons of raw tung oil annually.

TUNG OIL CAN BE USED FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

Tung oil has been used extensively in the paint and varnish industry.
In the 30’s, tung oil compounds were used to coat cables, telephone wires, generators, fans, and various other types of electrical equipment.
The automobile industry used large quantities of tung oil. For instance, every brake band manufactured used it as a binding agent to hold it together.
At one time, more than 2 million pounds of it were used annually to manufacture cosmetic tubes.
During the War of 1914 it was used extensively in the treatment of airplane fabrics as a water resisting varnish.
The Chinese have used it for waterproofing masonry, cloth, shoes, clothing, and paper.
It can be used to seal concrete.
Tung oil, mixed with lime mortar or burned tung nut residue, was one of the world’s first agents for waterproofing caulking boats.
It is used by stonemasons on granite and marble to permanently seal stone surfaces to prevent staining.
A light coat rubbed onto steel is an effective rust inhibitor.
The shells of tung nuts yield a valuable raw material for the manufacturing of insecticides.
It is used in printing inks.
It is used to print US paper money.
Tung oil was reportedly mixed in the mortar that made the Great Wall of China.
Its non-toxic nature makes it particularly appropriate for children's toys and furniture

TUNG OIL IN THE U.S. – HOW AND WHY IT GOT HERE

The first tung tree seed was brought to America from Hankow, China in 1905 by a senior agricultural explorer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1912 the Bureau of Plant Industry issued a special bulletin that urged growers to plant tung orchards and offered a limited number of free one-year old trees. This was a perfect fit, because after acre upon acre of pine trees were cut for timber in the early 1900s, Gulf Coast farmers were looking for a sustainable cash crop for the vast vacant land. That same year, ten trees were planted at University of Florida’s Agricultural Experiment Station in Gainesville. By 1927, there were over 400 growers and more than 10,000 acres of tung oil trees in Alachua County Florida and surrounding areas alone.

In 1928, L.P. Moore, nephew of the Benjamin Moore Paints founder, built the first mechanized tung oil compressing mill in the world, located in Gainsville. This began the commercial production of tung oil in America. Other mills later popped up in Cairo, Georgia and Florala, Alabama. The U.S. was a prime location for this new industry, importing 100 million pounds of Chinese tung oil in 1927, and 120 million pounds in 1933, with demand still exceeding supply.

The industry expanded from Florida, Georgia and Alabama to Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, with Mississippi becoming the largest producing state.

Just prior to the outbreak of WWII, tung oil was declared a strategic item for defense use, so the government aided growers to help them to produce more and better trees. During the war, all ammunition was coated with tung oil and products containing tung oil painted all ships. Not only were government support programs available for US growers, but the government also assisted foreign plantings in South America, particularly Argentina. There was an embargo on Chinese tung oil at the time, making domestic oil profitable. The Pan American Tung Research and Development League was formed between tung oil producers in Amercica and Argentina to work jointly on research and development and to pool tung oil from both countries to provide consistent supplies to U.S. consumers.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE U.S. TUNG TREE GROVES?

Major production of tung oil in the U.S. occurred between the late 1930’s and 1972, peaking in 1958 at 44.8 million pounds.

However, because tung orchards are greatly affected by adverse weather conditions, frost was a huge hindrance to U.S. tung oil production, usually decreasing the yields of tung groves. Between 1934 and 1940 frost almost totally destroyed the domestic tung nut crop. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, freezes wiped out commercial tung oil production in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and all of Georgia.

Hurricanes Betsy (1965) and Camille (1969) dealt the final blows to the tung plantations in southern Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. Camille cut tung oil production in the U.S. by over half. Since those growers were eligible for government disaster compensation, they took the money and went out of the tung oil business and into other agricultural production.

In addition, by the late 1960’s many of the US tung oil mills had closed due to the fact that importing tung oil from Argentina had become cheaper than producing it in the states.

Camille came on the heels of what was thought to be the savior of the tung oil industry – a genetic breakthrough that produced late-blooming varieties capable of escaping late spring freezes. Unfortunately, there was little incentive for replanting. Because oil is the only economically significant product of the tung tree. It cannot be grown for fiber, meal or fertilizer. That, along with the fact that domestic consumption declined nearly 50% between 1955 and 1970 spelled the end of commercial tung oil production in the U.S.

WATERLOX IS STILL ALL ABOUT TUNG OIL

While there is not a whole lot of tung oil being produced domestically these days, it is still readily available thanks to imports from China and Uruguay. Which is a really good thing since it is an essential ingredient in Waterlox Original Tung oil products.

Because Waterlox creates a unique line of tung oil based wood finishes – even among others who use tung oil in their formulations. Chemically speaking, our Waterlox Original Tung Oil products are resin-modified tung oil based wood finishes. The tung oil provides the best penetrating drying qualities available while the resin allows the coatings to form a film that is both water-resistant and elastic – standing up to both foot traffic and common household spills.

Different from other types of wood finishes, Waterlox offers “best of both worlds” benefits. For example, raw oils penetrate into wood but do not provide any real protection to the substrate. Plus, raw oil finishes need to be recoated often due to oxidation and wear. Urethane coatings lay on top of the surface, look more like plastic, can be brittle and once breached ultimately fail. Waterlox is truly incomparable because it penetrates like raw oil, while protecting and nurturing the wood without becoming fragile or having a plastic appearance.

Waterlox resin-modified Tung oil finishes penetrate into the pores of the wood and build up a coating that both guards and strengthens the wood. Best of all, they are easier to restore and re-coat. And without tung oil, Waterlox extraordinary finishes wouldn’t be possible.

INTERESTING THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TUNG OIL:

Marco Polo is said to have brought a sample back to the western world from China.
Completely natural and renewable, pure tung oil has gained recent popularity among the environmentally conscious.
Inherently resistant to disease and insects, tung trees require no fungicides or pesticides.
Tung nut byproducts can be used for mulch or burned for fuel.

Waterlox announces the Debut of its e-Newsletter!

2010-11-23T07:13:00.000-05:00

Waterlox has officially launched the first issue of its e-Newsletter. It is designed to provide you with information, new product developments and ideas with regard to Waterlox.

You don’t need to be a Waterlox customer to receive the e-Newsletter. If you are interested in subscribing, simply join our database by clicking on the following link.

Click HERE to join our mailing list.

Share your Waterlox story with us and get a free Waterlox t-shirt!

2010-11-16T04:07:00.000-05:00

Waterlox is hoping you’ll share your project details with us and the world. Simply submit details about your “labor of love” along with some quality images (JPG files if available) and your t-shirt size via email to khawkins@waterlox.com and we’ll notify you if you’re the winning entry!

Two New Ways to Interact with Waterlox – YouTube and Weekly e-Newsletter

2010-11-11T19:23:00.001-05:00

This month Waterlox has launched not one but two new ways to interact with the company by announcing the debut of the new Waterlox YouTube Channel and the debut of the weekly Waterlox e-Newsletter.

The new spot to view Waterlox videos is on the Waterlox YouTube Channel. The YouTube Channel will not only be home to Waterlox-generated content, but videos from customer uses of Waterlox that have created their own “how-to’s” relating to our products.

If you have any suggestions or would like to submit a video for posting, please email a link to khawkins@waterlox.com and we’ll review your content and possibly make it the newest post on the Waterlox YouTube Channel!

The weekly Waterlox e-Newsletter will make its debut soon too, so look for more details on how to join that email list!

Waterlox Celebrates its 100-Year Anniversary!

2010-11-04T17:30:00.003-04:00

Not many companies can boast about having started at a time when the Model T was just becoming popular and are still in business today to e-mail and blog their customers with product tips that many even receive on their cell phones…Waterlox is one of those.

Founded in 1910 as The Empire Varnish Company by R.L. Hawkins, Sr., Waterlox has grown to become the nation’s leading provider of premium wood finish handmade from natural Tung oil. For four generations, the Hawkins family has worked to maintain the quality and tradition behind every Waterlox product.

It was in the 1930s with the introduction of Waterlox Transparent (known today as Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish), which led to the innovation of other Tung oil based products, when the Waterlox division at Empire Varnish was created. Some 30 years later the company officially became Waterlox Chemical and Coatings Corporation, shortened in the 1990s to Waterlox Coatings Corporation.

The Waterlox commitment to value, education and reliability never wavered over the years, in fact it was reaffirmed at every stage of the company’s growth, when tradition and quality reigned over every decision – as they still do today.

Since its inception, Waterlox has been using Tung oil as the base for its wood finishes for a variety of reasons. Tung oil is completely natural and renewable as it comes from the nut of the Tung tree and it is the best penetrating drying oil available. It has been used as a base for sealing and waterproofing Chinese ships as early as the 14^th century and it remains elastic by moving with the wood during seasonal changes.

The Tung tree, indigenous to China and South America, is named for its heart-shaped leaves because “Tung” is Chinese for “heart.” When applied, rich Tung oil penetrates deep into the pores of the wood to provide a tough, highly water-resistant finish that never loses elasticity and does not darken with age.

Waterlox would like to thank all of our customers over the years for using our products and we will continue to uphold the tradition and quality of our products for years to come.

Waterlox communicates with customers and consumers through Social Media

2010-10-28T14:41:00.000-04:00

Starting this week, Waterlox is placing a strong emphasis on delivering and sharing our information with you electronically through our website (waterlox.com), social media venues and a new weekly e-newsletter. Every week, Waterlox will be posting a variety of information to include news, trends, specials, product information and application case studies through the use of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. As always, we’d love to have your feedback!

We want to address the questions, concerns and needs that you have as Waterlox customers, so every week we’ll be posting on these sites and we’ll also include mainstream trends about industry and product news on a regular basis, as well.

We’re very proud of our new Web site – www.waterlox.com. Redesigned and offering an incredible amount of product and project solution information, it’s a great resource for consumers, flooring contractors and woodworking professionals. Please check it out! And don’t miss the FAQs page, it’s chock full of project guides that help with everything from flooring and woodworking tips to information on drying and curing, kitchen and countertop details and even a materials calculator to make sure you get just enough of your favorite Waterlox products.

In November, look for two very significant launches – the debut of the Waterlox YouTube Channel and the very first Waterlox e-Newsletter. We’ll use our YouTube Channel to not only promote the videos that we produce, but also those that are submitted that give other Waterlox users a greater feel for using products in specific applications, from flooring and cabinets to outdoor uses and more.

Our Waterlox e-Newsletter will be a bold foray into providing weekly information directly to your in-box. We’ll have links to all social media and will focus on highlighting the trends and products that have made our customers come to know and love Waterlox. We’ll announce the e-Newsletter on Facebook and make sure to add your address to our list to receive our weekly emails.

Please share our social media sites with friends and colleagues and have a safe and Happy Halloween.

Welcome to the Waterlox Blog

2010-10-21T13:16:00.000-04:00

Four generations after Waterlox was founded in 1910 and the company remains committed now more then ever to providing superior finishing solutions that enhance and protect the natural beauty of wood.

So to launch our new blog it makes sense to post the history of Waterlox to give you a better sense of how the company has evolved over the years.

1910 R.L. Hawkins, Sr., establishes The Empire Varnish Company to produce a full line of exterior and interior paints, varnishes, enamels and stains.

1930s The introductions of Waterlox Transparent leads to other tung oil-based finishes that become the company’s most prominent line. The Waterlox Division is established.

1940s R.L. Hawkins, Jr., joins his father’s company.

1960s The Empire Varnish Company becomes Waterlox Chemical and Coatings Corporation. R.L. Hawkins Jr. is named President.

1970s J.W. Hawkins (3^rd Generation) joins the company, becomes president (1985), and continues to run the company today.

1990s A name change to Waterlox Coatings Corporation signifies a continued commitment to delivering a new and expanded product line and a continued commitment to quality coatings.

2000s Waterlox launches a brand new look for its tung oil line of Legendary Wood Finishes. Kellie Hawkins-Schaffner (4^th Generation) joins the company, reaffirming the Hawkins family’s commitment to quality, value, reliability and knowledge.