Replies

1. 
   kretep | May 04, 2008 02:39am | #1

   Peter:  That is the article that I was refering to, but I am not sure of the ingrediants he was refering to.  Can you help?

1. 
   peter28 | May 05, 2008 03:11pm | #3

   The ingredients are;

   alkyd (oil based) varnish

   turpentine, a very slow evaporating thinner for oil based products.

   tung oil, a drying oil found in many varnishes.

   japan drier, an accelerator for the curing process of an oil based finish.

   If you are a beginner, just open up a can of varnish, thin it a little with mineral spirits, and brush a thin coat on.

   Or you can thin the varnish 5050 with mineral spirits and wipe it on. This type of coat will be thinner, obviously, than the brushed coat.

   If you want to try the mixture Roland made be careful with any oily rags you generate as they need to be laid out flat or immersed in water afterwards to avoid spontaneous combustion.

   Keep It Simple.

   Peter

2. 
   peter28 | May 05, 2008 02:59pm | #2

   From the picture in the article, it says Woodcraft on the tung oil bottle. I would check with them.

   If I were to do this I would use a polymerized oil. It kick starts the tung oil, which on it's own in a raw state takes a very long time to cure.

   Peter

1. 
   johncbrownmd | May 05, 2008 07:10pm | #4

   Thanks Peter for taking the time to respond - we are all learning that in this day-and-age with all the options that are available one has to be very specific and precise.  Any finishing formulation needs to be as accurate as a prescription for medications where even right or left sided organic configuration can effect how compounds work. 

   I have been an oncologist for 25 plus years and when someone refers to woodworking with expressions like "that isn't rocket science or that isn't brain surgery or its not like he's treating cancer" - I can say that you're right it's not like treating cancer it is more difficult!!

1. 
   peter28 | May 05, 2008 07:40pm | #5

   The big difference here is it's not life and death.

   Finishing is one of those things that just promotes experimentation. Many people love to say "I made this finish" Is it any better or worse than what you can use straight out of a can.......?

   I don't think you have to be precise to the extreme with any of the hundreds of "recipes" out there.

   Just my opinion.

   Peter