Tung Oil Curing time

Next time do not slop it on.

JJ

Daniel wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have a project which I finished with Tung oil. For the first coat, I
> slopped it on, let it soak in (end grain swallowed tons!) and wiped off
> after 10 min.
>
> It seems like the finish is taking a long time to cure. It's been at
> least 4 days, and I get some slight shinyness on my fingers when I touch
> the surface of the wood. My impression was that this stuff cured in 48
> hours or so.
>
> - Daniel

Without driers to hasten the process and in cool weather, the oil should
be applied in very light coats. When the temp gets over 80 you can slop
it on.

JJ

Daniel wrote:
>
> At the time of application I did wipe all the excess (unabsorbed) oil
> until the surface was matte. But after 4 days of curing time, the
> surface still transfers small amounts of oil onto my fingers when
> picking the workpiece up, and will transfer small amounts of oil onto
> paper towels if I use them to pick up the workpiece.
>
> The surface is not sticky, just soft and slightly most, nowhere near
> the somewhat "durable" that I'm expecting. I am sure it will turn
> hard after a few weeks, but that's a long time to wait for each coat
> if one wants to build up 5 coats of pure tung.
>
> "George" <george@least> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > Well, the directions usually say "flood," so a thinking man might figure the
> > fault lays in the "wipe dry" section of same. Then, of course there may be
> > a temperature problem this time of year, coupled with the reluctance of
> > "pure" tung oil to take on oxygen rapidly anyway.
> >
> > If it's still lying sticky on the surface, rub it off vigorously with
> > solvent and abrasive, put the piece where it's warm but not hot enough to
> > make the oil flow, and remember next time to wipe off any shiny areas over
> > and over until they no longer shine.

Well, the directions usually say "flood," so a thinking man might figure the
fault lays in the "wipe dry" section of same. Then, of course there may be
a temperature problem this time of year, coupled with the reluctance of
"pure" tung oil to take on oxygen rapidly anyway.

If it's still lying sticky on the surface, rub it off vigorously with
solvent and abrasive, put the piece where it's warm but not hot enough to
make the oil flow, and remember next time to wipe off any shiny areas over
and over until they no longer shine.

"Jeremy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Next time do not slop it on.
>
> JJ
>
> Daniel wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a project which I finished with Tung oil. For the first coat, I
> > slopped it on, let it soak in (end grain swallowed tons!) and wiped off
> > after 10 min.
> >
> > It seems like the finish is taking a long time to cure. It's been at
> > least 4 days, and I get some slight shinyness on my fingers when I touch
> > the surface of the wood. My impression was that this stuff cured in 48
> > hours or so.
> >
> > - Daniel

Jeremy is right. I get good results with tung and linseed oils when it is at least 70
degrees (21 C) in the shop. Drying time multiplies 3-5 times at 60, so I use a space
heater in the winter. Helps to have humidity below 50%, too (requiring a dehumidifier in
the summer - basement shop).

At the time of application I did wipe all the excess (unabsorbed) oil
until the surface was matte. But after 4 days of curing time, the
surface still transfers small amounts of oil onto my fingers when
picking the workpiece up, and will transfer small amounts of oil onto
paper towels if I use them to pick up the workpiece.

The surface is not sticky, just soft and slightly most, nowhere near
the somewhat "durable" that I'm expecting. I am sure it will turn
hard after a few weeks, but that's a long time to wait for each coat
if one wants to build up 5 coats of pure tung.

"George" <george@least> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Well, the directions usually say "flood," so a thinking man might figure the
> fault lays in the "wipe dry" section of same. Then, of course there may be
> a temperature problem this time of year, coupled with the reluctance of
> "pure" tung oil to take on oxygen rapidly anyway.
>
> If it's still lying sticky on the surface, rub it off vigorously with
> solvent and abrasive, put the piece where it's warm but not hot enough to
> make the oil flow, and remember next time to wipe off any shiny areas over
> and over until they no longer shine.