MDS

I'm building a two 9 drawer bedroom chests with accompanying end tables. I completed the end tables first and used tung oil for a finish on the interior drawers. Big mistake since I now realize they will smell "forever". Prior to that realization, I finished the interior carcass of both chests with tung oil also. That includes the dust panels and all non-visible wood parts. (1 coat)
Is there a solution? Will coats of shellac make the oil dry up?

Wood4Fun

tung oil takes a long time to cure, but the smell should go away eventually ... up to a month depending on various conditions (amount applied, temp, humidity, etc).

The shellac would likely conceal the smell, but you need to wait until the oil cures before putting the shellac on... and by then, your problem should be gone!!

MDS

Interesting. The end tables have been installed since last November. Still have a smell. I used Rockler's 100% tung oil thinned to their recommendations for a first coat. Drawer made out of poplar. I only put on one coat.

Gene Howe

You might try emptying and leaving the drawers open a few inches for a few days..maybe a week or so.
Or, you could wipe the insides down with the medium used for thinning then leave them open for awhile.
At any rate, when you are certain they are dry, a coat of shellac should solve your problem.

Bob Wingard

Saturate some paper towels with either ODO-BAN or FEBREEZE and leave them inside the piece, but on a piece of plastic wrap or a shallow bowl. It will speed up the elimination of the solvent smell.

Tony B

Have u ever noticed that furniture is rarely ever finished on the insides or the drawers?
The odor is only a small part of your problem. Eventually 'things' will stick to it including dust. There may be occasions that the oil will actually bleed out.
The best solution would be to get a wet rag soaked in thinner and remove as much as you can. Constantly changing rags so as to remove and not just shuffle around the oil. Let air dry for a month or so to ensure it is really dry from the oil, then coat with a hard finish. That should seal it.

__________________
Tony B

http://www.thetexaswoodworks.com

chaim

You can seal in the smell using shelac!
Dip a rag in acetone and wipe away as much of the tung oil as you can (do this in a well ventillated area!!!)
repeate several times until you have removed as much oil as possible, let the drawers vapor off for a while and then you can come back and using a one pound cut seal in the remaining oil.
put on two or three coats and this should eliminate the smell.
I have heard of using this remedy to remove the smell of moth balls and to seal in oil.
best of luck,
Chaim