"eganders" wrote in message
oups.com...
After using a "tung oil finish" varnish/oil with quite a bit of
success. I thought I would use pure tung oil to finish a project.
I
know I must be impatient, but I would like some feedback. When I
put
on the first and second...or even the 3rd coat of 20 to 50%
diluted (in
mineral spirits) oil, and wipe it down after 15 minutes to 1/2 hr.
The
finish looks satiny (looks good!!). After waiting 12 to 24 hrs,
it is
dull and areas look like they have soaked into the wood leaving it
lifeless. It is blotchy. I put on several more coats 24 hrs
apart and
I don't see any real improvement. If I try to apply it and let it
set,
I still get the same effect and I seem to get "scales" that flake
off.


If I put just a very small amount on the surface, I expected to
see a
surface that had a slight satin look--at least after 2 or 3 coats.
My
description is that the wood looks dull, lifeless unless I put on
quite
a bit and let it sit, wiping it after about 1/2 hr.

Suggestions?


Time, elbow grease, patience, elbow grease, experimentation, elbow
grease ... : )

I've used both raw linseed and tung oils over a number of years,
however, I don't claim to have any great expertise. I have found the
use of these oils time consuming, labour intensive, and in the case
of tung oil, expensive. They also require regular follow-up
maintenance. In spite of that, I like the results.

Because the oil oxidises rather than evaporates, it needs time to
dry between applications. A minimum of 24 hours - preferably 48
hours is my recommendation., - (or as long as it takes.)

I tend to thin the first coat of tung oil 75/25, - ( oil/mineral
turpentine) the second 90/10 and apply subsequent coats without
thinning. Each coat is applied liberally to give a "wet" look and
left to sit for up to an hour prior to wiping off the excess. With
the first coat I wet sand and with subsequent coats I burnish with
steel wool prior to wiping off the excess. The flakes you see when
you have let it dry without wiping off the excess are oxidised oil.
(With raw linseed oil, I use oil/mineral turpentine dilutions of
60/40 for the first 2 coats and 80/20 for subsequent coats.)

How many coats? ...... as many as it takes for the wood you are
using. : )

The last project I used tung oil on, was a kitchen bench-top made of
2" x 9" pine boards glued together to form a 9' x 3' x 2" slab. It
was then given 4 coats of raw linseed oil followed by 3 coats of
tung oil. It came out with a nice even satin patina and has shown no
signs of bleeding or cracking/warping in six months. The hardness of
the tung oil finish has also stood up well to daily use. ...... so
far.