DIYbanter - View Single Post - Newbie questions about tung oil, wood dye, etc.

wrote:

I've got a solid mahogany study that is ruined (IMO) by a dark stain.
I would like to sand off the finish (a lacquer, I was told) and the
underlying stain or dye to get to bare wood and then apply a pure tung
oil finish. Why tung oil? Well, someone told me it looked great and
could be renewed easily. I'm been reading threads here about tung oil
and have got myself confused. First, it sounds as if I may not need a
dye -- that the tung oil itself will perhaps give me the look I want.
I've experimented with a scrap piece and removed the finish and then
wetted the surface with water and it looked about like what I'm looking
for -- maybe just a little too light, perhaps not. So, questions:

1) Will multiple applications of the tung oil result in further
darkening so that I can keep applying (after drying) until I get the
color I want?

no

2) Or will a dye be necessary, first?

yes

3) If I dye and get the exact color I want, will putting the tung oil
over it darken the color?

yes

4) And I'm assuming that I *can* put tung oil over wood dye -- can I?

yes

5) What grits of sandpaper should I use to get the wood stripped and
then ready for applying the dye or tung oil?

whatever it takes. don't skip grits or you'll find it's next to
impossible to remove sanding marks.

6) Do I sand or use steel wool between the dye and the tung oil or
between applications of tung oil?

if you want, you can lightly sand after the dye with 220-320 to knock
off nubs raised by waterbased dye.

sanding between coats of tung oil -- depends on how fine a texture you
want. let your fingers be your guide

Dave