Using Tung Oil.

[wm460]

I am using Tung oil for the first time, for a handle to be used on a kitchen implement, the destruction's say to apply two coats:




Apply Minwax® Wood Finish™ Stain, if desired, following the label directions.


Be sure the stain has completely dried before applying the finish.
Wipe or brush on a generous coat of Minwax® Tung Oil. Apply in the direction of the grain.
Let sit on wood for approximately 5-10 minutes, then buff evenly with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Wait 24 hours and apply a second coat. Two coats are recommended.


My query is I did this but thought the finish was lacking, so I applied another two coats, which made the finish look a lot better.


How many coats would you recommend?


Do you buff it item when you have finished it.


How would you tell the customer to look after this item.

[Tahlee]

Hi WM

100% Tung oil is a very good finish but does need time to dry (cure) to be at its best ... a chair that I finished was left 2 weeks to properly dry ..

I have used 2nd and third coats but always leave it a few days between coats.

Before the final coat I have used Tripoli powder to engender a higher buff.

Regards

Rob

[Kuffy]

Did you use this stuff in a yellow can?
Minwax Tung Oil Finish - Oil-Based Wood Finish | Minwax (http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/specialty-finishes/minwax-tung-oil-finish)

It's the same as
https://www.masters.com.au/product/101058412/Minwax-Antique-Oil-Finish-946ml


I use the antique oil quite a bit for some vinyl record player boxes. It's not actually tung oil, its a tung oil "finish". I don't know exactly whats in it, but its a solvent/resin/oil blend. The instructions say to wipe on then wait and buff off. I just wipe on and come back in the morning, light sand, wipe on again. Rinse and repeat until the sheen is glossy enough for my client. Sometimes I get lucky and it only takes 3 coats on backsawn blackwood, sometimes it takes 8 bloody coats!!!!! My client likes it shiny, but not grain filled to be glass flat like a french polish.

[wm460]

Thanks for your replies, I bought the yellow tin from Master's the last time I was in Adelaide.

[Luke Maddux]

With any oil finish, regardless of content, I apply until I've gotten the desired finish. Sometimes that's up to six coats, other times as few as three (but never less than that unless it's some kind of shop box, jig, or something like that).

Then, I also think it's important to wait about a week, then hit it with 0000 steel wool, and apply one more coat, regardless of how many you put onto it previously (so this could potentially be the seventh coat with my method). In my experience, oil finishes can lose a bit of their lustre in the first few days as they fully cure, and that one, final coat usually boosts them back to 100%, where they tend to remain.

But that's just my AU$0.02 based on a somewhat limited experience.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Luke

[johnbaz]

Hi

I refinished two airgubn stocks for a fella using a Tung based oil, It was mixed with some other oils but Tung oil made up the bulk of the concoction!!

I gave the stocks around eight/ten coats rubbed in with the palm of my hand, Each coat was rubbed in until my palm became hot!!

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The old finish that was on was restitant to paint stripper and Oxalic acid, No idea what it was but I had to remove all traces with abrasive paper :doh:

I've done a fair few stocks over the years, This is my favourite oil to use, I used to use blo but I had one stock (BSA Airsporter Stutzen) that stayed tacky so I never used it again!! :oo:



John :)