Application of Tung Oil

Tung oil is one of the better natural furniture finishes and is pretty fool proof to use.

Tung oil is flexible, so can withstand the constant expansion and contraction of wood from temperature and humidity without cracking or checking. Tung oil will soak into the pores of the wood to seal it from moisture and it will leave a good coating on the surface of the wood furniture to give a pleasant sheen appearance. Subsequent coats of tung oil will build a good protective surface coat.

Tung oil isn't as hard as lacquer, but is much easier to repair if it gets a blemish and although it isn't as hard as lacquer it is hard enough to be completely protective.

Read further about Surface Preparation. When you are done, click one of the products below to get a detailed description of the best application of
that product.

Surface preparation

Surface preparation is about 90% of a good finish. Take a look at our page on surface preparation to help you get a good surface for applying the finish.

Surface preparation is probably the most important part of furniture refinishing. After the old paint or old finish is stripped from the furniture and before any finishing process is started it's necessary to carefully prepare the surface.

Let the surface dry thoroughly, at least 24 hours, then check to be sure thatthere aren't any bits and pieces of old paint or finish left.

When you're certain that all the old finish is off, then clean the surface with an after stripper cleaner, denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner and 0000 steel wool. Although many furniture strippers say that they are water washable, water isn't a good thing to use on wood as it will raise the grain.

The next step is very important in surface preparation. Keep a pair of cotton gardening gloves handy just for this purpose. After your furniture refinishing project has thoroughly dried after the final cleaning and rubbing with the 0000 steel wool put your cotton gloves on and run your hands over the surface very carefully. If the gloves don't snag anywhere, don't sand the furniture, let a patina grow.

If the gloves snag, then you'll need to lightly sand.

If the surface under the gloves feels just a little rough, then go over the area again with your cleaning solution and 0000 steel wool.

When you run the gloves over the surface and if feels smooth, then your surface preparation is complete and you're ready for the next step.