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Typically, surfaces that need maintenance have a very dry, or lackluster appearance compared to when the finish was originally applied. You can move furniture back into the room after applying the Dark Tung Oil. However, keep area rugs and furniture that sits close to the floor off until the full 30 days are complete. We recommend placing plastic sliders between the floor and wooden legs of furniture. This will prevent the furniture leg from naturally pulling the oil out of the floor. You can apply the oil with a natural bristle brush, a sponge brush, or a soft and lint-free rag.
Our Half & Half, Dark Half, and Outdoor Defense Oil are pre-thinned options. If you do choose to thin the oil yourself at a 50/50 ratio, simply take the estimate in gallons above and divide it in half. One half will be the amount of oil needed and the other half will be solvent. Feel free to move about on your floors with either socks or rags underfoot after applying the Dark Tung Oil. Moving across the floor with rags or cloth material is actually recommended as it will help buff and prevent any oil that may seep to the surface.
Myths and Facts About Tung Oil
Silicone caulks tend to pull away from the oiled surface over time. We recommend putting wax or parchment paper down near sinks when doing dishes and other activities that splash water about. This will prevent the water from pooling on the surface and can be easily removed after dishwashing. As Dark Tung Oil cures, it slightly expands and may push fresh oil back to the surface. Check for oil that may be seeping to the surface and remove it, if found, with a rag.
Dark Raw Tung Oil builds quickly, consolidates the wood surface and builds a dark matte wood finish. It should be kept in an airtight container with minimum airspace. In short, go with an oil/varnish blend if you want the soft luster of an oil and a faster drying time.
Dark Tung Oil
As soon as possible, remove the water from the surface using a leaf blower or a broom. You just want to prevent the water from staying on the newly finished surface. Dark Tung Oil does not contain any additives to speed the drying process, such as heavy metallic dryers. Because of this, it can take up to 30 days to completely/thoroughly cure by its natural polymerization process. Provided below are some guidelines to follow during the curing phase.
During the first 15 days of curing, you can use the surface. However, you will want to avoid getting it dirty or allowing liquids to puddle on the surface during this period. Extremely dense woods such as teak, ipe, etc may require thinning up to a 2 to 1 ratio of solvent to Dark Tung Oil. Our biweekly podcast allows editors, authors, and special guests to answer your woodworking questions and connect with the online woodworking community.
How Much Do You Need for Your Project?
On a practical note, tung oil also dries faster than other oils, making it easier and less time-consuming to apply. From an aesthetic standpoint, tung oil also cures to a beautiful matte finish that adds depth to woodgrain, producing an antique-style finish on any surface. After you’ve applied multiple coats and the wood won’t absorb any more oil, use a clean rag to wipe the surface. If there are any puddles of oil on the surface, mop them up with the rags. This is important as you don’t want the tung oil to start curing on the surface. It is said to have been introduced to the West by Marco Polo.
We believe in being honest with what is in our products. So, that’s why we provide the ingredients used in them so you can rest assured knowing exactly what’s in the product you purchase from us. For example, if the calculator says you need 4 gallons, but you wish to thin it yourself. Do not get hung up on the number of coats, let the wood tell you when it has reached its maximum saturation. This thinned mixture can easily find any open pores and fill them.
From the 13th to the 19th century, tung oil had only limited use in the West. In the 19th century, it was adopted by the paint companies to become a major component in paints and varnishes. More recently, tung oil has gained favor over linseed oil for furniture finishing because it is faster drying and does not darken as much with age. If necessary, start by sanding or stripping the surface to remove any coating or finish that’s already there. Tung oil can only be applied to bare surfaces or over another coat of tung oil. Follow that up by cleaning the surface with trisodium phosphate.
How to Stop a Storm Door from Icing Up Here’s why your screen door might be icing up on and how to prevent it. 5 Types of Weather Stripping Material A guide to help you select of the best material to use for weather stripping your doors or windows. Pure tung oil is easy to identify because it contains no solvents. That may be a good thing in terms of limiting your exposure to VOCs, but applying it is an exacting, drawn-out process.
Pure Tung oil is an excellent alternative to other drying oils, such as walnut, linseed and soy. Renewal and/or maintenance coats are thinly applied with lint-free cloths or old t-shirt material on an as need be basis. A two parts solvent to one part tung oil mixture is recommended for maintenance coats. Outdoor projects may require more maintenance than indoor. Heavily used areas can be expected to require more maintenance than lightly used areas.
Choose a wiping varnish for its ease of application and high durability. The resinous hydrocarbon used to darken and color the pure tung oil is naturally occurring, non-carcinogenic, and PCB free. Try to apply Dark Tung Oil when rain is not in the forecast for a week or two. None of us can control the weather and should it rain on your newly oiled deck don’t worry.
