Replies

1. 
   CStanford_ | Feb 12, 2000 02:57am | #1

   *
   You need to mail order catalogs, my friend. Woodcraft, Garrett Wade, Woodworkers Supply......

   Try Woodcraft.com This stuff ain't cheap, and the drying time is loooooong. Plan on at least seven full days to accomplish a finish job with pure tung oil without any driers added. At least seven.......

   I'm guessing that you have concerns about so-called "safe" finishes. Let me tell you that they are all safe after they are cured. So along those lines, please consider using Watco Danish oil, or Minwax Antique Oil for your project. They have driers and other goodies added that will give a beautiful finish and make your life much, much easier.

1. 
   Mike_Taylor1 | Feb 12, 2000 08:46am | #2

   *Actually I want to cut it 50% with turpentine and use it on deck furniture. Drying time or being a 'safe' finish are not concerns. I haven't bought Tung Oil in a long while. When I last bought some, it seemed readily available and relatively cheap. I have been using Linseed oil and would prefer a harder finish, but still sticking with oil for ease of maintenance. The woodcraft price for a quart is outlandish! I would like to buy it in gallon quantities. I do not care for most of the 'mixed' finishes commercially available.

1. 
   Michael_Richwine | Feb 12, 2000 07:54pm | #3

   *Meritindustries.com lists it in their catalog at $38.00 per gallon, and Furniturecaresupplies.com sells it for $37 and change. I doubt you'll find it much cheaper. Recommended cut is 4 parts mineral spirits to 1 part tung oil.

1. 
   CStanford_ | Feb 13, 2000 12:41am | #4

   *Don't laugh, but I have found a product at Home Depot that I like, especially for outdoor stuff. It's Behr Scandinavian Oil and has both linseed oil and tung oil, as well as alkyd resins, driers, and UV inhibitors. Goes on exactly like Watco, but gives somewhat of a faster surface build due to the tung oil (I guess). If you aren't too proud to shop at the orange box, you might try this stuff out. I think it can be bought in half gallon sized cans, as well as smaller cans.Offered for what it's worth in hopes that I might be of some assistance.

1. 
   Mike_Taylor1 | Feb 15, 2000 07:56am | #5

   *Mr. Stanford - I tried my local 'Orange Box' and discovered that they had quit carrying the Behr stain and oils some time ago. Bummer! Any other suggestions?I guess I will go ahead and order a quart of Tung Oil at the ridulous price of $18+shipping. Anyone got a good formula for mixing Tung Oil? I noticed that HD had Japan Dryer. Probably should plop a little of that in. What about adding linseed oil? what would that provide? I have previously cut it 50% with turpentine with ok results. At the time I didn't know what I was doing though! Probably still don't!

2. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Feb 15, 2000 04:21pm | #6

   *Old Masters pure tung oil. Murphy Brothers. On Bissonnet, north side, between Kirby and Shepherd. Forget the driers. You live in the hell-hole that is Houston. Normal rules for finishing don't apply, and the best time for doing the job is almost over. Pure tung oil is not particularly durable, and the price you are complaining about is quite normal for just a quart. Expect to pay up $22 a quart. If you don't like the price, use another product. You can toughen it by adding alkyd or polyurethane varnish if you like, but then you might as well buy 'tung oil finish'.

3. 
   CStanford_ | Feb 15, 2000 07:04pm | #7

   *Mike, since you (very properly) plan to thin the product consider that by thinning 50% (50% tung oil/50%thinner) with a solvent that one gallon of tung oil, becomes two gallons of thinned solution and this will go a LONG way. Perhaps this will help you justify the cost.I'm surprised that your Home Depot does not carry Behr products. The five stores in Memphis are brimming with all kinds of Behr branded stuff.I've used practically every brand known of tung oil, linseed oil, Danish oil preparations, varnish, etc. on the market. I honestly can't say that from my experience I've found any particular brand to be significantly better than another. Therefore, I'm not a brand conscious buyer of these products. While Memphis is not quite as humid as Houston, there is substantial humidity during most of the year. I have found that the use of oil finishes - Danish oil and the Behr product that I mentioned, work very well (the added driers do appear to help). The only problem I have noticed are somewhat extended drying times in the spring and summer due to the humidity. The use of film forming finishes, especially lacquer, will give you fits in Houston but penetrating oils should not other than for longer drying times. Hey, you can always start your next project while the oil cures. It's a good time for design or to pick out stock for your next creation.Good luck......

4. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Feb 15, 2000 07:39pm | #8

   *I forgot to address the mixing question. Thanks for reminding me. Mix it mith mineral spirit. Mineral spirit is slower drying than some other thinners, necessary in his location. This time of year (hot and humid) add between 30-50% mineral spirit. As the conditions get hotter and more miserable (hell-on-earth, usually April to October) increase the proportion of mineral spirit to 50-75%, and work a smaller area. You have almost no time to leave the stuff on. Apply it and wipe off almost immediately to avoid problems. Failure to do so will leave a blotchy, patchy appearance.For indoor furniture, alkyd or polyurethane varnish can be included in the formula (as I suppose it could for exterior use.) In Houston, no driers are required for this mix.

5. 
   remark | Feb 19, 2000 04:33am | #9

   *I am fairly new at finishing. Someone told me about a rubbed tung oil finish. I then found that was avery large subject. I have used with good sucess Sutherland-Welles Polymerised Tung Oil(What ever that means) comes in a Low,Med and High Luster finish. It really does a nice job. It is expensive I guess. About $30 a quart. It is easy to apply and a little goes a long ways. I take about 2 weeks to finish a piece and use 5 coats and then wax. You ol pros may laugh at me and my methods but it sure comes out nice looking. I live in a small town and order the oil from Garrett-Wade. Plug for GW. I have found them to be dependable and very accomadating and they also have actual human tech that are available to give advice.

6. 
   Mike_Taylor1 | Feb 21, 2000 03:11am | #10

   *See this site: http://furniturecaresupplies.com/Got this email from them:Sir,We do carry 100% Tung oil, in quarts and gallons. It's $10.99 a quart, or $37.17 a gallon. Please feel free to call us at 800-451-0678 between 7:30 and 4:30 EST and one of our salespeople will be happy to answer any questions you might have.Thanks, Chris Antley, Furniture Care Supplies