Does anyone have experience with Sutherland Wells polymerized tung oil(especially the matte finish variety)? I want to make an oil/polyurethane finish and want to know if the anyone has experinece with this particular tung oil and is it really worth the $38/qt cost? Also Garrett Wade sells a Murdoch “tabletop” finish that sounds like it is a polyurethane/polymerized tung oil mix that also is very expensive, about $42/qt. Is this really that much better than something like Armorseal(about $12/qt)? I am making a walnut lowboy and want to be able to give it some protection against wear like a table top but with a matte finish. Thanks!
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When you get beyond the "hype", you are dealing with tung oil. Polymerizing is a process whereby the oil is heated to begin the curing process. In other words, it causes the tung oil--which is normally very slow to cure--to cure more quickly. BTW, this is exactly the process used for Tried & True Oil except they use linseed oil. When it's all said and done however, you are left with a tung oil finish which is only slightly more durable than a wax finish and far less durable that most other finishes.
The other product is an oil/varnish product. Again, it is no different than the other oil/varnish products like Watco. Instead of boiled linseed oil, they use their polymerized tung oil.
Personally, I would use neither if I was looking for other than minimal protection. You can do as well and better with a number of other products.
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