Why Suthertland Welles??

Sutherland Welles Ltd.® has a complete line of the highest quality/lowest toxicity Polymerized Tung Oil products, sold by Mazzone True Value , they are formulated to meet your real-world finishing needs. Sutherland Welles provides products for every step of the finishing process; from wood preparation, to coloring the wood, to finish coats, and to maintenance. Whether restoring small antiques, finishing floors, or protecting your cutting boards, Sutherland Welles has the professional wood finishing products for you.

Is Your Tung Oil REALLY Tung Oil?

The term “tung oil” has been used improperly by so many manufacturers that most people are misinformed and confused as to what Tung Oil really is. Tung oil is extracted from the nut of the Tung Tree. In its natural form, Tung Oil is unsuitable for wood finishing, but in its polymerized state it becomes and ideal finishing product. Most “tung oil finishes” actually contain little or no tung oil. They are often formulated with linseed, soy or paraffin oils which tend to dry poorly and fail to form a hard and durable surface. These inferior oils develop a gummy build-up when additional coats are applied. In fact, linseed oil, the most commonly used additive, disintegrates and blackens with time – making it a very poor choice for wood finishing!

The same confusion exists when manufacturers refer to their tung oil being Polymerized. Polymerization is a “cooking” process that changes the molecular structure of pure, raw Tung Oil and that when combined with solvents allows the oil to penetrate the wood and improve its workability. The question is, how extensive is the “cook” and what solvents are being added? Depending on the formulation, it is not uncommon for manufacturers to use such additives as varnishes and urethanes in order to improve the hardness, durability, and luster of the finish. But in doing so, this adds to the toxicity of the finish, inhibits the penetration of the oil into the wood fibers, and can adversely affect the drying and curing time.

Why Buy Anything Else?

Sutherland Welles products contain absolutely no Linseed Oil whatsoever! The Sutherland Welles polymerization process is the most extensive and thorough in the industry. Our process takes the “cook” to its maximum thermal threshold thereby maximizing the bonding of the oil to the wood and increasing durability. After polymerization, the oil is combined with solvents to allow the oil to penetrate the wood and improve its workability.

Sutherland Welles Ltd.® uses nothing but the “cleanest” solvents and the lowest toxic driers available. In fact, the Botanical line is made with no petroleum distillates, is 99.9% plant derived, and is the perfect choice for butcher block countertops, cutting boards, and anything where having the lowest toxicity products possible is important.

Sutherland Welles Tung Oil will give you that “hand-rubbed” look, yet is hard and flexible, waterproof, and impervious to alcohol. And the best of all, the finish will become more beautiful with time and requires very little maintenance.