Hi!
I am new to this, so stick with me as I try to figure this out. I just finished a box today. It’s one of my best, but I’ve ran into a big finish problem. The finish is two coats of tung oil followed by two coats of a home-made beeswax polish, made of beeswax and mineral spirits. Previously I’ve had some of the same problems using a similar finish.
Yesterday I put on the final coat of wax, after letting the oil dry for about four days. I pt the wax on in a medium-thick layer, planning to polish it with a fine abrasive pad (the white kind) followed by a soft cloth. This evening when I checked on the box I found that the finish was disappearing from the box, leaving a surface that looks like it was before finishing. Is my problem the wood? The oil? The wax? Please help!
Replies
Runcina,
First let's establish that you are using 100% pure tung oil and not one of the many deceptively named finishes on the market that are called tung oil but actually contain little or none of it. If it doesn't say 100% pure tung oil on the package you are not using tung oil. You may have an oil/varnish mix(that is most likely linseed oil and varnish) or a wiping varnish.
If you do have real tung oil you need to apply a minimum of 4 to 5 coats allowed to cure for at least a couple of days between coats to achieve any kind of a finish with it. Even then you will have a very weak non-protective finish. Wax will not add any significant amount of protection either. If you are going to use wax it should be applied and then buffed out as soon as it loses its shine. From your post it sounds like you left the wax on for quite awhile.
I wish I could understand how tung oil got its magical reputation as a wood finish. I really can't think of any application where it would be that useful.
Rob
Runcina, What is the actual finish you have used? The term "tung oil" is used by manufacturers to refer to anything from linseed oil to varnish to actual tung oil. What is the wood? Rich
IMHO, tung oil and tung oil finishes need at least a week of curing before they can be messed with.
Thank you for replying. I use the 100% tung oil from Woodcraft. I don't need a protective finish at all, as my piece is just a box.
What is the wood you have used for this box?
The part that is finished with oil and wax is cherry, planed and then sanded to 600 grit.
Runcina, Normally cherry will finish well with an oil. But sanding to 600 grit, you may have burnished the wood to the point that it really didn't absorb any finish, and when the surface "wetness" disappeared, all that was left was wood. You may have a particularly dense specimen and might get better results abrading the wood back to 320. Rich
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