Tung Oil

[Maureen P]

Hi, am just wondering if anyone has used pure Tung Oil on teak furniture to restore luster?

I am not looking for a gloss or shiny finish. The furniture is in great condition, however is dirt & dust in handles and on edges, top of cabinet is just looking "worn & tired"

Thanks in advance

Maureen

[ian]

I suggest you remove all the dirt and gunk first, and use a modified Tung oil with dryers added. Pure Tung oil takes a long time to polymerize or "dry".

[Robson Valley]

Up here, there are some wood furniture cleaners/conditioners (what ever that means), products such as "Pledge."
I am not such a house keeper that I have any!
Call antique dealers. Go trolling for opinions.

MinWax Tung Oil Protective Finish (aka TOPF) is exactly that = apply to bare wood. Some tung oil mixed with many other things.
On my wood carvings, one coat is satin. Almost undetectable but it darkens the wood a little.
When you can't smell it, time for coat #2 and so on.
Four coats, about a week apart, is water-wet glossy. . . . I don't think that's what you want at all.

[Maureen P]

If pure tung oil is not a contender, does anyone have any suggestions as to what oil/product I could use just to bring the teak "back to life" without giving it a shiny finish. Just want to nourish the wood.

Also before I "oil" it, would it be suitable to give cabinet a wipe over with warm soapy water, not a soaking, just a wipe.?

Thanks

[Chesand]

Have a look at U-Beaut Polish Reviver made by our Benevolent Dictator.

[ian]

Maureen

It's very difficult to advise without seeing the piece.

But one important question -- have you, or a previous owner, ever used Mr Sheen to polish or clean the piece?
If yes, the residual silicon may need to be dealt with before any new coating is applied.

Also, where will you be buying what ever finish you intend using? Do you have a range of suppliers, or is it just the shelves of Mitre 10 or Home Hardware or Bunnings?


Although these exact products are probably not available where you are, the instruction information should be helpful (look for the blue "instr").

Pure tung oil 100% Pure Tung Oil - Lee Valley Tools (http://www.leevalley.com/en/Wood/page.aspx?p=20049&cat=1,190,42942)

Polymerised tung oil Polymerized Tung Oil - Lee Valley Tools (http://www.leevalley.com/en/Wood/page.aspx?p=20050&cat=1,190,42942)

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Hi Maureen,

I agree with ian above that it is difficult to give advice without seeing it. However, in answer to your question about the wipe over with warm soapy water, the answer is yes. That is a good way to get rid off accumulated grime and dust. Just make sure to dry it well afterwards. Unless you have the teak out in the weather it doesn't need "nourishing" so, depending on how sad it looks you may just be able to clean it and then apply a good furniture wax. NOT beeswax as it stays sticky and attracts marks and dirt - a good furniture wax may have some beeswax in it as a carrier but it also has hard waxes like Carnauba wax in it. You polish off all the beeswax and leave the hard wax as a soft sheen/protective coating. UBeaut makes a good furniture wax but antique shops usually sell something like 'Black Bison' which is a decent brand. Some such shops also sell straight beeswax but don't be tempted!

The polish reviver mentioned above by Chesand is great to restore a shellac/French Polished surface too but it depends on what the original finish for the teak was as to whether it is appropriate for you. I have found it can leave a bit of a dirty mark if not polished off very vigorously (when I have been lazy).

Good luck

David