The results of development of composition and optimisation of components of paintwork materials for wood covering are presented. The influence of metal catalyser in the form of highly dispersed waste from electric arc furnace deposition on drying time and increase of adhesion strength of the paintwork material to the covering was investigated. Variable factors: pigment content and fine aggregate were considered and approved. According to the results of the optimisation, regression equations represented as a polynomial of the second degree and the optimal substance composition of components were obtained. The influence of the variable factors on the formation of the main properties of paintwork materials - conditional viscosity, elasticity, adhesion to the covering, drying time was studied. Experimental studies were carried out by scanning electron microscopy using standardised methods. The obtained data of normative tests of physical and mechanical properties of the paintwork material with the addition of metal catalyser indicate the prospects of its application as a siccative. It was established that the drying time of the optimized composition was reduced up to 23% in comparison with the control one, the mass fraction of non-volatile substances was reduced up to 20%, and the adhesion of the paint covering was increased up to 20%. The development and industrial introduction of oil paint formulation of optimised composition will allow solving actual ecological problems of bio resources recycling and environmental protection.