Tung Oil Finish problem

[sawdust.king]

I am refinishing the top of a buffet. I have sanded allthe existing scratces etc for a very smooth finish. Do not know the wood species, but it seems soft. Top is 20" By 60" solid--not glued up.
Now the problem. After sanding to 220 grit I stained a medium mahogany (Minwax) Have put three coats of tung oil (Minwax) 24 hours apart and buffed each coat. I then applied two coats of furniture wax, but I still have a dull coat. It really doesn't look to much different than it did just stained.

Hope this explains itself.......Thanks
Jim

 

[Argee]

Did you make sure the previous coat of oil was dry before the next one? I've found that unless you re-visit the oil after about 20 minutes of applying to remove all excess, you can get this type of problem.

Ray.

 

[compo]

Personally I wouldn't of thought 1 coat of oil would be enough.

 

[compo]

Whoops, just re-read the original post - you see, 1 coat's not enough, that's why you applied 3...

Sorry - serves me right for multi-tasking

 

[Wanlock Dod]

Hi Jim,

I'm very fond of tung oil, but it really can take a while to really dry.

It sounds as though you have put on a coat a day for about 3 days (i.e. 24 hours apart). If I was putting a repeat coat on a tung oil finish (or another finish on top). I would usually wait at least a week for it to dry before I do. This isn't a problem for me because I'm never really in that much of a hurry (if I was I would use a different finish).

I suspect that this could be contributing to the problem.

If the first coat is thinned a bit with white spirits then the second coat can often be applied sooner (but still thinking in terms of days rather than hours). I still tend to apply this principle to items that I have burnished with shavings (I am mostly turning, so it is quite easy then). I am also usually putting a wax on top of the oil, but usually no stain underneath.

Remedy? Can't say I've tried but remove wax with a wax removing thingy, put on another coat of oil (rubbed well into the remaining coat), leave it to dry (or cure?) for a goodly while, then it's out with the wax again.

Cheers,

Dod

 

[TEP]

Hi Jim.

I think with all these oil products application should be small and many, with ample time between coats to allow the surface to dry. I don't use Tung oil on its own, but I do use 'Finishing Oil which is Tung Oil based with the addition of different resins and driers which accelerates drying and allows you to re-coat ever 8 hours or so.

Application, I brush the oil on, leave for 10mins. then wipe off and buff with a cloth, continue re-coating until you have the depth of finish you require, with drying time between coats. Leave for at least a week or more to harden off, all oil finishes dry to a matt - satin surface. If you wish to have a gloss surface I use a burnishing cream rubbing until I achieve the shine I want.

Finally the item gets about 3 coats of 'Renaissance Wax' buffed well in by hand, and allowed to harden for at least 2 days before use.