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Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
By:Brian Nystrom
Date: 8/29/2007, 7:07 am
In Response To: Material: Minwax Tung Oil? (Rick Cicciarelli)

Minwax "Tung Oil Finish" is actually an oil/varnish blend (as are "Danish oil" products) with lots of thinner added. According to the MSDS for the product, it's 65% mineral spirits, so you're paying a lot of money for a product that's mainly "paint thinner". Without knowing the ratio of oil to varnish, it's difficult to predict what the final finish will be like. If it's at least 50% oil, it should produce a soft, satin finish like plain oil, but more durable. If it's mostly varnish, you'll end up with a harder finish that will get slippery with use. I would suggest testing it on a piece of scrap before committing to using it.

Personally, I'd say you're better off to blend your own finish, so you know what you've got and you're not paying for thinner you don't need. You can buy pure tung oil at Woodcraft, Rockler, Lee Valley and other woodworking suppliers, but check local paint and hardware stores, too. I've found it in some very unexpected places. If you can't find pure tung oil, buy some boiled linseed oil and use that; the difference is not huge, especially if you're blending it with varnish.

Speaking of varnish, natural varnish such as Epiphanes works well, but polyurethanes are fine, too (gloss varnish works well in blends, BTW). I prefer a 50:50 oil/varnish blend when using natural varnish, but I like a bit more oil in the blend with poly's (~60%), as they're somewhat harder than natural varnishes. Regardless, you don't need to thin it and there is no benefit to doing so.

Messages In This Thread

Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
Rick Cicciarelli -- 8/28/2007, 3:16 pm
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
Brian Nystrom -- 8/29/2007, 7:07 am
Re: Pure Tung Oil?
S Stewart -- 9/1/2007, 2:06 pm
Re: Pure Tung Oil?
Brian Nystrom -- 9/2/2007, 10:37 am
Re: Pure Tung Oil?
Bill Hamm -- 9/3/2007, 1:17 am
Try "Bloxygen"
Brian Nystrom -- 9/3/2007, 10:50 am
Re: Try "Bloxygen"
Robert N Pruden -- 9/7/2007, 8:05 pm
Re: Try "Bloxygen"
TOM RAYMOND -- 9/5/2007, 2:02 pm
Re: Try "Bloxygen"
kelly t -- 9/7/2007, 3:55 am
Re: Pure Tung Oil?
kelly t -- 9/3/2007, 5:40 am
Re: Pure Tung Oil?
Mike Savage -- 9/3/2007, 6:14 am
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
Rick Cicciarelli -- 8/30/2007, 7:59 am
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
John Monroe -- 8/29/2007, 6:07 am
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
Don Goss -- 8/28/2007, 8:24 pm
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
Mike Savage -- 8/28/2007, 7:32 pm
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
TOM RAYMOND -- 8/29/2007, 12:40 pm
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
Mike Savage -- 8/29/2007, 5:28 pm
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
Aaron -- 8/28/2007, 7:09 pm
Re: Material: Minwax Tung Oil?
Bill Hamm -- 8/29/2007, 1:05 am