Pure Tung Oil (Chinawood Oil)

Coverage

• Sample oz. covers 1 sq. foot
• 8 oz. covers 25 sq. feet
• 16 oz. covers 50 sq. feet
• 32 oz. covers 100 sq. feet
• Gallon covers 400 sq. feet
• Example: One Gallon would cover 400 sq. feet one time.

Directions

There are four phases when it comes to using Pure Tung Oil for your projects.

1. Preparation
2. Application
3. Curing
4. Maintenance

Preparation

• The best operating temperature for applying Pure Tung Oil is above 50°F ( 10°C ).
• Be sure the surface of your project is free of dust, debris, or grime by using a natural bristle brush or rug to clean the surface.
• Check to see if the surface is porous. (Pure Tung Oil works by absorbing into the material and filling the open pores. Therefore, if your material is not porous, it will not accept Pure Tung Oil. To test if your surface is porous or not, place a small amount of water on the surface. If the water absorbs, it is porous. If it does not and beads on the surface, you may need to sand and/or strip the surface.)
• If you need to sand your surface, we recommend not going above 220 grit sandpaper. Too high of a sandpaper grit will “polish” the surface, hindering proper absorption of Pure Tung Oil.
• If stripping your surface is needed before applying tung oil, we recommend using Soy Gel: Paint and Urethane Stripper.
• If you are looking for a darker color finish, take a look at our Dark Tung Oil.
• We recommend using water or alcohol-based stains on the wood before the Pure Tung Oil is applied. Most oil-based stains should be avoided as they tend to seal the wood and prevent absorption of the Pure Tung Oil.
• DO NOT use a wood conditioner. This will seal the wood and prevent the tung oil from absorbing. Tung oil naturally seals some parts of the wood anyway.
• Determine if you will need to thin the Pure Tung Oil. Pure Tung Oil is a naturally thick liquid and usually requires thinning to help it absorb into the wood. You can thin Pure Tung Oil with a variety of thinners. If you are doing a project where you want to use natural, food contact safe products, try our Citrus Solvent. If you’re looking to be a bit more economical, try our Odorless Mineral Spirits. Do not use a mineral spirit or odorless mineral spirit marketed as “green”, “eco-friendly”, or similar verbiage. These do not mix with the tung oil and will create adverse effects on your finish. Typically these thinners have a milky appearance in the bottle rather than clear.
• NOTE: Most projects DO require this thinning. Only very old, dry wood or concrete tend to use unthinned Pure Tung Oil.
• Extremely dense woods such as teak, ipe, etc may require thinning up to a 2 to 1 ratio of solvent to Pure Tung Oil.
• Don’t want to deal with the hassle of thinning it yourself? Look no further than our Half & Half! Pre-mixed Pure Tung Oil and Citrus Solvent mean you can use it right from the bottle without any mixing!
• If you’re looking for a wood finish that doesn’t require any solvent, you may be interested in Hemp Oil

Application

When applying Tung Oil, here’s a handy thing to remember: Apply, Absorb, Repeat or Remove

Apply – Apply Tung Oil to the surface.
Absorb – Let it be absorbed into the material.
Repeat – Do what you just did, apply the oil and let it absorb.
Remove – When the oil isn’t absorbing and excess oil is pooling on the surface, remove it with a rag.
Cure – Let the Pure Tung Oil go through its natural curing process.

For the best results, you want to saturate the material with the tung oil to the point where a majority of the surface is no longer absorbing the oil. This will look like puddles on the surface even after waiting 40 minutes. Just like a sponge, the wood (or other porous surfaces) will only absorb so much oil before it can’t anymore. This saturation is achieved by doing multiple coats.

You can apply Tung Oil with a brush, rag, roller, or even a pump sprayer depending on your project and needs. We recommend brushes and/or foam rollers for most projects.

1. Apply a generous first coat.
2. Let the tung oil absorb into the surface, waiting if needed, up to 40 minutes.
3. Apply another coat, let it absorb, and repeat the previous steps.
4. Continue applying tung oil until you reach the desired amount of coats or have fully saturated the wood. You can tell the wood is saturated when the oil puddles on the surface and no longer absorbs oil across a majority of the surface. To be sure, wait 40 minutes. If the oil is still puddling, then you will know the surface is saturated.
5. Taking a clean rag or cloth, remove any excess tung oil that is puddling or pooling on the surface.
6. Hang those oil-soaked rags outdoors to dry. DO NOT pile the rags or put them in a container.

For the best tung oil finish, we recommend letting this application rest and settle overnight. The following day, apply one or two more coats of Tung Oil to the surface of your project, following the same steps outlined above.

Curing

Pure Tung Oil does not contain any additives to speed the drying process, such as heavy metallic dryers. Because of this, it can take up to 30 days to completely/thoroughly cure by its natural polymerization process. Provided below are some guidelines to follow during the curing phase.

• Pure Tung Oil cures best in warm, well-ventilated places. The warmer and more ventilated the area, the faster it will cure.
• Placing objects on the surface will “suffocate” and prevent the Pure Tung Oil from curing properly. If there is no airflow between the surface and the object, it should be removed until the curing is complete (30 days).
• During the first 15 days of curing, you can use the surface. However, you will want to avoid getting it dirty or allowing liquids to puddle on the surface during this period.
• As the Pure Tung Oil cures, its durability and resistance to liquids and dirt will also increase. The first 7-15 days is when the oil is at its freshest and weakest state. After that point, increased regular use of the surface can take place.
• As Pure Tung Oil cures, it slightly expands and may push fresh oil back to the surface. Check for oil that may be seeping to the surface and remove it, if found, with a rag.

For butcher block, wood countertops, and etc.

• Avoid getting dirt, water, or other liquids on the surface of the butcher block for at least the first 7-10 days.
• We recommend putting wax or parchment paper down near sinks when doing dishes and other activities that splash water about. This will prevent the water from pooling on the surface and can be easily removed after dishwashing.
• Avoid putting cutting boards, appliances, dishes, and other objects that sit close to the recently refinished surface for extended periods of time. These objects prevent airflow and can hinder Pure Tung Oil from curing.
• If you are mounting or under mounting a sink, we recommend waiting for 7-10 days before mounting the sink. For caulk, we recommend using DAP Ultra Clear All Purpose Sealer. Silicone caulks tend to pull away from the oiled surface over time.
• If you have an under-mount sink, we highly recommend saturating the end grain of the butcherblock in the sink area with 100% Pure Tung Oil. This will help seal the very porous ends of the wood and give it the best resistance to water.
• Always remove both tung oil and sealer excess.

For indoor floors

• Feel free to move about on your floors with either socks or rags underfoot after applying the Pure Tung Oil. Moving across the floor with rags or cloth material is actually recommended as it will help buff and prevent any oil that may seep to the surface.
• You can move furniture back into the room after applying the Tung Oil. However, keep area rugs and furniture that sits close to the floor off until the full 30 days are complete. We recommend placing plastic sliders between the floor and wooden legs of furniture. This will prevent the furniture leg from naturally pulling the oil out of the floor.
• While the oil is at its freshest (usually the first 7-15 days) do not walk across the floor with dirty shoes. The dirt will be pressed into the fresh oil and will be hard to remove.
• The floors can be temporarily covered with plastic, painters cloths, or cardboard for no more than a day.
• Avoid having any liquids sit on the surface.

For outdoor decks, siding, and other wooden surfaces

• Freezing temperatures can affect the curing of Pure Tung Oil. You will want to delay your project until the temperatures will be above freezing for a minimum of two weeks during the curing of the tung oil.
• Do not apply the Pure Tung Oil in the direct sunlight. The heat from the sun will flash polymerize the oil while it is on the surface.
• Try to apply Pure Tung Oil when rain is not in the forecast for a week or two. None of us can control the weather and should it rain on your newly oiled deck don’t worry. As soon as possible, remove the water from the surface using a leaf blower or a broom. You just want to prevent the water from staying on the newly finished surface.

Maintenance

The beautiful thing about a Pure Tung Oil finish is that the maintenance of it is easy. We recommend cleaning the floor with mild soap and hot water. Avoid using harsh chemicals, acids, or strong solvents to clean the surface.

Maintenance coats are on an as-need basis. Outdoor projects may require more maintenance than indoor. Heavily used areas can be expected to require more maintenance than lightly used areas. Typically, surfaces that need maintenance have a very dry, or lackluster appearance compared to when the tung oil finish was originally applied.

When doing a maintenance coat you do not need to sand the surface again. Here is what we recommend;

1. Make sure the surface is clean and free of dust or debris.
2. Make a 2 to 1 ratio of solvent to Pure Tung Oil (2 parts solvent, 1 part tung oil). This thinned mixture can easily find any open pores and fill them.
3. Thinly apply this mixture using a clean cloth. Simply wipe it onto the surface, no need to lather it on.
4. Wipe up any excess that may be on the surface with a clean, lint-free rag or cloth.
5. Allow this thin coat to cure for 24 hours.
6. Hang oil-soaked rags outdoors to dry.
7. Go back to enjoying the surface like normal!

Storage

Pure Tung Oil can last with ease for multiple years on the shelf. Here are some guidelines to help you store it properly so it can be used for your next project.

• Make sure the lid on the Pure Tung Oil packaging is tightly screwed on. This will keep air exchange from happening in the container.
• Store the bottle in a dry, moderate temperature environment. A place where it won’t freeze or become excessively hot. Freezing of the oil will make the natural fats separate from the oil. Excessive heat can cook the oil to the point where it cures in the bottle.

Want to be a Pure Tung Oil pro? Check out the Hints & Tips section!