Replies

1. 
   Paul_Snyder | Nov 02, 2002 06:45am | #1

   The Formby's Tung Oil finish is actually a wiping varnish. Varnish is a very durable film forming finish that can can last many years.

   Here's a link to an article on tung oil finishes - http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/finish2.html

   Here's a link to an article that has information on the properties of various finishes - http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00060.asp

   Paul

   F'burg, VA

2. 
   mrles | Nov 02, 2002 08:38am | #2

   I've used pure Tung oil for many years and have had good luck with it. The way I apply is with a cloth very thin coats let it set a few minutes and wipe off excess, 24 hrs later buff with 0000 steel wool very lightly wipe down with a tack cloth Apply 3 or 4 coats like this. The finish will be an oil finish not shiny but one of the most forgiving durable finishes you can use. You can set a hot cup of coffee or a wet cold drink can on this and it wont ring or damage the finish. I have read some opinions saying you need to mix a drier with the pure stuff like japan drier. I haven't found this to be the case and I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas with real high humidity.

   I have thinned Tung oil 50/50 with mineral sprits and used it on end grain To seal it before staining so the grain wouldn't be darker.

   les

1. 
   RSRose | Nov 03, 2002 09:02pm | #4

   Les,

   Regarding advice to mix metallic driers with Tung Oil to accelerate polymerization:

   Tung Oil does not respond to metallic driers. If you are having good results with "pure" Tung Oil, that's good. Usually pure Tung takes quite a long time to harden (polymerize). There are preparations of partially polymerized (heat activated) Tung Oil which polymerize on application to wood in days and weeks, rather than the weeks and months of pure Tung.

   Rich

1. 
   mrles | Nov 04, 2002 05:36am | #5

   Apparently Rich I apply such a thin coat at a time the drying hasn't been a problem. I bought as 8 ounce bottle of pure Tung oil and applied 4 coats to 14 feet of cabinets 3 louvred doors and had a little left over. I lived in that house about 4 more years and when I moved it was still looking good.

   While we're on the subject of Tung oil I had a customer a few years back went on vacation to Scotland or Ireland, I don't remember which.  When She came back She told me about visiting a Tung oil orchard and Tung Oil was one of the countrys biggest exports. According to what she was told most canned foods and drinks are coated inside with pure Tung Oil. You ever hear anything like this?

   les

1. 
   RSRose | Nov 04, 2002 07:27am | #6

   Les,

   I didn't know that about using Tung Oil. But I guess that's logical, it IS a vegatable oil, after all.

   It surprises most people to learn that shellac is used in much the same way. It's used to coat foods and medicines among aother things.

   Rich

3. 
   HowardAcheson | Nov 02, 2002 07:00pm | #3

   As Paul S. has said, Formby's Tung Oil Finish is just a thinned varnish containing virtually no real tung oil. If you look closely at the container it says it's a varnish. There may be some amount of tung oil used to make the varnish but once varnish is varnish, it's no longer tung oil.

   However, to answer your question, varnish is a good long term finish. Because the Formby's is a thinned varnish, you need to apply more coats than you would with full strength varnish. About 2-3 coats of Formby's will be equivalent to one full strength coat. How long it will last is determined by it's environment. Varnishes outdoors or in long term direct sunlight may only last a couple of years. Indoors, they can last 10 years or more unless subjected to harsh use. Formby's is a light colored varnish and tends not to yellow much over time.

   
   

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   Edited 11/2/2002 3:10:56 PM ET by Howie