| There are really only four significantly | | | | slowly. The only advantage tung oil has over |
| different finishes that major marketers call | | | | linseed oil other than water resistance is |
| "oil":Straight oil. There are two main | | | | the fact that it will yellow considerably |
| varieties of straight oil - tung oil and | | | | less. This can be important on blonde woods |
| linseed oil. Tung oil is usually found | | | | that you don't want to darken.Polymerized oil |
| labeled as "pure" oil or "China wood oil". | | | | can be made by heating any curing or |
| There are 2 forms of linseed oil, raw and | | | | semi-curing oil in an oxygen-free environment |
| boiled.Polymerized oil. There are 2 | | | | to around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This |
| principal kinds of this type of oil also. | | | | increases its hardness and reduces its curing |
| You guessed it, polymerized tung oil and | | | | time. This oil is commonly used in ink and |
| polymerized linseed oil. Polymerized oils | | | | outdoor paint. This oil cures very fast and |
| perform more like varnish than straight oil. | | | | very hard and resists water well also. It is |
| They are also expensive and can be hard to | | | | often used in high-end gun stocks. Two |
| find.Regular varnish (including polyurethane) | | | | problems with this oil are its cost and the |
| that has been thinned with mineral spirits. | | | | fact that it cures too fast to be applied and |
| This finish is often sold as oil but is | | | | wiped off unless it is thinned greatly with |
| technically a wiping varnish.A blend of | | | | mineral spirits.Wiping varnishes include most |
| straight oil and varnish (also including | | | | of the "oil" finishes found on store shelves |
| polyurethane). This oil/varnish mix is often | | | | today. They are not in fact oil at all, |
| sold as Danish oil.Take a look at some of the | | | | they're varnish. There is a difference. |
| qualities of each of these major | | | | Varnish cures much faster than oil. It also |
| categories.Linseed oil is extracted from | | | | cures glossy (unless flattening agents are |
| seeds of the flax plant. Metallic driers are | | | | added by the manufacturer) and is hard when |
| added to the oil to speed drying time. The | | | | cured. This hardness is the most important |
| linseed oil mix that is available to | | | | difference, as it allows you to build up a |
| consumers cures in about a day. Of all | | | | thicker layer of finish with repeated |
| finishes except wax, linseed oil is the least | | | | coats.Oil/varnish blends are simply what the |
| protective.Tung oil is extracted from the | | | | name implies. Oil and varnish (including |
| nuts of the tung tree. Many high-quality | | | | polyurethane) are compatible so they can be |
| varnishes are made with tung oil, but it is | | | | mixed. This combines the properties of both, |
| rarely used as a finish on its own. Tung oil | | | | reducing the gloss and increasing the cure |
| can be fairly water-resistant with five or | | | | time, making it easier to apply than varnish, |
| six coats, but is too soft to provide | | | | while still providing the hard cure that |
| superior scratch resistance. In fact, tung | | | | varnish is used for.Hopefully this list will |
| oil will require five to six coats to give a | | | | help you make the right decision on the |
| pleasing smooth appearance and cures very | | | | finish to use on your wood project! |