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Do you use wood conditioner before tung oil?
You’re not staining, so no need for ‘conditioning’ the wood beforehand. Also important to understand what “wood conditioners” are made from. Almost all are just a very dilute finish, e.g. thinned varnish*.
Do you have to mix tung oil with citrus solvent?
No more mixing needed! One part Pure Tung Oil mixed to one part Natural Solvent (currently Pine solvent – see note below). Most projects require the thick viscosity of Pure Tung Oil to be thinned in order to soak into the surface. Pure Citrus Solvent is available HERE if you choose to buy separately and mix yourself.
Does tung oil condition wood?
Tung oil protects, nurtures and beautifies wood like no other finishing product available. It is my all-time favorite choice for finishes that don’t require rock-hard protection offered by clear surface coatings such as polyurethane, lacquer and shellac.
What does citrus solvent do to wood?
Citrus Solvent is 98% pure citrus peel oil extracted from the peel of the orange fruit; the other 2% is water. This small amount of water is emulsified in the solvent and will not raise wood grain but is released into the air as the solvent evaporates.
Does tung oil have to be thinned?
Tung Oil works by oxidation with the air and polymerizes. So you want to get as much oil in the floor as soon as possible, but you do not want to apply it with out thinning. It takes too long to dry and will sit on the surface and dry leaving a frosted appearance.
Should I dilute tung oil?
Apply Pure Tung Oil using a brush or lint-free cotton cloth. For ease of application dilute the first one or two coats with up to 50% white spirit. Allow the oil to penetrate for 20 to 30 minutes then wipe off the excess oil using a clean lint-free cloth. Allow to dry for 24 hours between coats.
Is citrus solvent safe?
While Odorless Mineral Spirits are highly refined, they are not deemed food contact safe. However, Citrus Solvent is 100% natural and food contact safe. If you are planning on using it for any surface that food will touch, it’s best to just use Citrus Solvent.
How do you dispose of citrus solvents?
It can safely go down the drain. Personally, I only use mineral spirits. I keep the old stuff in an old water bottle to let the dirt settle to the bottom and use it many times. . . . is that the citrus stuff is biodegradeable and can be poured down the sink.
Can you use tung oil to finish wood floors?
This finishing technique can be used in many applications such as wood floors, decks, docks, concrete floors, outdoor wood furniture, wood counter tops and many other porous surfaces. Hundreds of people have used this method successfully over the years since we first reintroduced Pure Tung Oil back into the spotlight.
What’s the ratio of tung oil to solvent?
Thinning with a natural solvent helps the oil penetrate deeper into the material. The 1 to 1 or Half & Half ratio works great all-around for most surfaces like new raw wood, butcher block countertops, cutting boards, concrete, terra cotta clay pots, stone, and slate.
How big of a surface can you coat with tung oil?
Can be mixed with any other of our Tung Oil Products (i.e. Pure Tung Oil, Dark Tung Oil, Dark Half, Outdoor Defense Oil). Example: 1 Gallon will do 1 coat on a 400 sq. foot surface.
When did the Chinese start using tung oil?
The earliest reference I can find to the use of tung oil is in the writings of Confucius around 500 B.C. The Chinese have used tung oil, also known as China wood oil, for at least 2500 years for wood finishing, wood waterproofing, caulking, inks and paints. I also found some references to using tung oil for medicinal purposes in ancient history.