Replies

1. 
   saschafer | May 01, 2008 05:50am | #1

   First of all, is this pure tung oil, or a "tung oil finish"? Anything that doesn't say "100% pure tung oil" or something similar is probably an oil/varnish mix, and may not even contain tung oil at all.

   If it's really tung oil, you need to let the oil fully cure before applying any top coat. That will take at least a couple of weeks, and I'd probably give it a month to be on the safe side.

   The next thing to do is apply a sealer coat of shellac. The main reason for this is that cedar contains compounds that can interfere with curing of varnishes and lacquers, and the shellac will help keep them away from the topcoat. Use Zinsser SealCoat (you can get it at any home center). I prefer to apply it with a pad, which you can make by folding up an old t-shirt, wetting it with denatured alcohol (also from the home center), and then putting a teaspoon or so of shellac at a time on it. Wipe quickly, and don't try to go over an area to "smooth it out." Shellac dries very quickly, so you can apply three or four light coats about an hour apart. The first coat or two won't look so good, but by the third coat you should be getting a nice, even finish. Finally, sand lightly with 320 grit paper to remove any dust nibs.

   You can also brush shellac, but you may need to thin it a bit with denatured alcohol if you find you're getting streaks. Brushing will build the finish more quickly, but it's also harder to keep it flat and smooth.

   After you've applied the shellac, you may find that the surface is already to your liking. You can rub the surface with fine steel wool to even out the satin finish, and then top it off with paste wax for a nice "glow."

   Or, if you want a finish that stands up well to bumps and knocks, you can apply a varnish over the shellac. For ease of application, I would recommend a wiping varnish. Minwax Wipe-on Polyurethane is readily available and easy to use.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   bige913 | May 01, 2008 05:25pm | #2

   Thank you Steve, I will try to follow your instructions and hope they turn out like you say. Thanks for the info, Bige913

2. 
   HowardAcheson | May 01, 2008 09:54pm | #3

   Of course, no finish of any type should be applied to the inside.

   Howie.........
1. 
   bige913 | May 02, 2008 04:44pm | #4

   From what i read, I know about not doing the inside. But I thank you for the input. Bige913