The Benefits of Using Tung Oil Finish for Your DIY Projects

Let’s dive into the beautiful world of tung oil—a finish that’s been around longer than any piece of furniture you’ve worked on. Suppose you’re just starting your furniture refinishing journey or looking to add another trick to your repertoire. In that case, tung oil might just be your new best friend. Let’s break down all things tung oil together.

What is Tung Oil?

Tung oil, also referred to as China wood oil, is like the ancient secret sauce of woodworking. This natural oil, pressed from the nuts of the tung tree, which hails from southern China, has a history that stretches back to the 7th century BCE (I told you it’s old). It’s been used for centuries, from waterproofing boats to finishing elegant furniture pieces. Imagine having a finish in your toolkit that’s been trusted for millennia—pretty cool, right?

Psst: To know more about refinishing products trusted for centuries, you must check out Wood Shellac.

Why Use Tung Oil?

So, why should you include tung oil in your toolbox? Let’s break it down:

1. Enhances Natural Beauty: Tung oil penetrates deep into the wood grain, bringing out the wood’s natural beauty and unique grain patterns. It makes wood grain pop! As the heavy weight of the oil finishes, it provides a classic wood oil finish with the highest durability offered by a natural oil.

2. Water-Resistant: Once cured, tung oil creates a durable, water-resistant finish. Perfect for keeping those coffee spills and water rings at bay. It provides the most durable finish offered by a single natural oil.

3. Non-Yellowing: Unlike some oil finishes that darken or yellow over time, tung oil keeps your wood looking true to its original oiled colour. No unwanted yellowing over the years there!

4. Easy Application: You don’t need a degree in chemistry to apply tung oil. Just wipe it with a clean rag or brush, wait, and wipe off the excess. It’s as easy as making a pie—well, maybe it’s easier. Trust me; if I can do it, you can too.

5. Food Safe: Fully cured tung oil is non-toxic and food-safe, making it great for cutting boards, bowls, and other kitchen items. While uncommon, a few food-safe oil finishes can go rancid over time. Or even mildew! But not tung oil. You never have to worry about this oil finish on your wooden kitchen items.

Types of Tung Oil

You have two main types of tung oils: pure tung oil and blended tung oil.

Pure tung oil is precisely what it sounds like—100% oil extracted from the nuts of the tung tree. It’s the most natural option (eco-friendly and food-safe) and provides a beautiful, low-sheen finish that penetrates deep into the wood grain. Throughout this article, I focus on pure tung oil. This type of tung oil is prized for its durability, water resistance, and the rich, warm glow it gives to wood surfaces. However, it can be more expensive and requires a longer curing time.

On the other hand, blended tung oils (such as Walrus Oil) are mixtures that include tung oil along with different resins, solvents, or oils. These blends aim to enhance certain properties, such as faster drying times or increased ease of application. They can be more budget-friendly and convenient. Still, they may not provide the same purity (food safety) level and natural finish as pure tung oil. They often cater to specific needs, like quick drying for time-sensitive projects or added durability for high-traffic areas.

Ultimately, the choice between pure and blended tung oil depends on your project requirements, budget, and personal preference for the finishing process.

The Ups and Downs of Tung Oil Finish

But hey, nothing’s perfect, right? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Pricey: Pure tung oil can be a bit expensive. It’s like the Gucci of wood finishes. But hey, you get what you pay for. When I first started, I hesitated at the price, but the results were worth every penny. And Remember, a little goes a long way! Apply thin coats, as you will be wiping away any excess oil.

2. Long Cure Time: Tung oil takes its sweet time to cure—up to 4 weeks. So, patience is key. This can be a pain if you’re like me and often impatient to see the final result. My first tung oil project had me biting my nails for a month, but the finish was worth the wait.

3. Maintenance: Unlike some film finishes you can set and forget, tung oil (any oil finish, actually) needs reapplication every year or two. But on the bright side, you can refresh and maintain your pieces easily.

4. Less Durable: Tung oil isn’t as tough as film finishes like polyurethane or varnish. It’s more prone to scratches and wear as it does not coat the surface like a film finish but bonds within the wood grain. So, maybe skip it for high-traffic pieces of furniture.

Best Uses for Tung Oil

Tung oil shines on open-grained woods like oak, walnut, and teak. This is because it is absorbed into the wood grain. These woods soak up the oil beautifully, showcasing their natural colours and patterns. Here are some ideal uses:

1. Furniture: Tung oil is perfect for furniture projects. It enhances the natural beauty of the wood and provides a durable finish. Take into consideration the use of the furniture item. A dining table of a busy family may require more protection than what tung oil offers. But that walnut side table could glow!

2. Cutting Boards and Bowls: Tung oil is food-safe once cured, making it great for kitchen items. It provides a protective barrier against moisture and stains from food. Consider using tung oil on your next refresh of the butcher block.

3. Wooden Utensils: For the same reasons, tung oil works well on wooden spoons, spatulas, and other utensils. They not only look great but are safe to use with food.

Application

Applying tung oil is rather straightforward and similar to all other oils. Wipe (or brush on) the wood surface, wait the required time, wipe off the access oil, and allow the necessary drying time before applying another coat. When you have used two to three coats, you must allow the Tung oil 30 days to fully cure before it has reached full strength.

Applying oils is actually incredibly simple, yet it remains a mystical finish for many beginners. I believe this stems from the maintenance requirements of oil finishes.

Mineral Spirits and Tung Oil

Pure tung oil is incredibly thick. Thicker than many other natural oils. Because of this, many woodworkers opt to blend the first coat of pure tung oil with mineral spirits. The belief is that mineral spirits will help the bare wood surface absorb the oil deeper. The mineral spirits dry off and leave the tung oil to dry.

Subsequent coats can be added of pure tung oil without mineral spirits. I personally have not tried thinning the oil and applying it based on the application instructions.

Appearance on Wood

While it is true that tung oil will not yellow over time, it will initially darken the wood when applied. Some may even consider it to amber the wood. There is no way to avoid this, as it occurs when oil is applied to a wooden surface. Tung oil simply darkens the wood a tad more than other oils.

Tung oil Before and Afters

Are you curious about how tung oil affects different types of wood? So was I! Therefore, I tested tung oil on 3 different types of wood. Specifically, I tested pure tung oil and blended tung oil on solid pine, walnut veneer, and teak veneer.

You can read all about the experiment and the outcomes here. (coming soon)

Maintenance Tips

Maintaining tung oil finishes is pretty straightforward. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Routine Cleaning: Clean wood furniture with a mild soap and water solution—no harsh chemicals. This keeps the finish looking fresh without damaging it. I use a simple dish soap and water mix for all my tung oil-finished items.

2. Annual Recoating: Recoat the entire surface with 1-2 additional layers of tung oil annually (or every second year) for optimal protection. These additional coats will replenish the original finish and build more layers over time. Without periodic recoating, the tung oil finish will become dry and worn.

Brands and Types of Tung Oil

I have personally used pure tung oil from Sol-éco and from Fusion Mineral Paint. Both worked similarly in the application process and the end result. Another popular Tung oil is Hope’s 100% Pure Tung Oil. 

I have used walrus oil furniture finish in terms of blended tung oil. This is a blend of Tung oil with linseed oil and safflower oil. The application was incredibly different from other oils in that you wiped on the first coat of oil and let it sit for 24 to 48 hours before wiping it off.

Final Thoughts

Tung oil is a fantastic choice for many DIY wood projects. It enhances the natural beauty of wood, offers water resistance, and is easy to apply. Just be prepared for the maintenance and long curing time. Try tung oil if you’re looking for a natural, eco-friendly finish that makes your wood look amazing.

For more tips and detailed guides, check out my posts on thin shellac and how to remove shellac from wood.