tung oil.... then? - Woodworking Talk

Dvoigt · 04-11-2008, 09:10 AM

So if i finish a project with tung oil do I need to add any thing else to it like a coat of poly? Or does that just depend on what the project will be used for?

I'm making a jewlery box (for lack of a better word) out of Mahogany and finished it with some tung oil. Can I call it done, or should I keep going?

thanks
Derek

cabinetman · 04-11-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dvoigt

So if i finish a project with tung oil do I need to add any thing else to it like a coat of poly? Or does that just depend on what the project will be used for?

I'm making a jewlery box (for lack of a better word) out of Mahogany and finished it with some tung oil. Can I call it done, or should I keep going?

thanks
Derek

If you're happy with it call it done. Or, keep doing the applications allowing each to dry. You could use just a wax application after oiling. There is a variety of different brands. Rubbed out, looks pretty good. Or, after the oiling, you could use an oil base varnish, or oil base polyurethane, both are available in different sheens.

For the future, you can make your own mix like the "oil finishes" sold retail, which are a mixture of oil (BLO or Tung), oil base varnish or oil base polyurethane, and mineral spirits (you could use Naptha instead for a slightly faster dry). To this mix you could even color with adding small amounts of oil base stain.

jerry · 04-11-2008, 11:20 AM

What do you mean "finished it with tung oil" ?. What exactly did you use and how much of whatever it was.

Jerry

WDChew · 04-11-2008, 11:23 AM

If you used a commercial "tung oil" wipe on product, it really is a wiping varnish and won't need anything on top.

Was it pure tung oil?

Dvoigt · 04-11-2008, 11:29 AM

I might need to double check at home, but I believe it was just in a metal container. I think it just tung oil.

I bushed on 2 coats of it over 2 days.

Dvoigt · 04-11-2008, 04:11 PM

I was under the impression that you always needed to poly things if you wanted to protect the wood from scratching and discoloration. Am I wrong?

mdlbldrmatt135 · 04-11-2008, 08:27 PM

Tung oil then Wax............

sweensdv · 04-12-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdlbldrmatt135

Tung oil then Wax............

Do you wait the 4-6 weeks it normally takes for the tung oil to fully cure before you apply the paste wax?

**Daren** · 04-12-2008, 10:56 AM

There has been much discussion about Tung oil and wax here. This one thread has links to other discussions too. Plenty of reading (and pictures) on the subject. Finish for curly maple?