What’s Tung Oil?

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Tung oil is a wood finishing product derived from the tung tree nut. Pure tung oil creates a solid finish, while tung oil finish is a term used loosely to describe a wet look. Tung oil can trigger nut allergies and requires sanding between applications.

Tung oil is a type of wood finishing product that is derived from the pressed nut of the tung tree. Tung oil is a drying oil similar to flaxseed, safflower, poppy, and soybean oils. Drying oils are perfect for wooden objects, as the oil dries to a clear film once it has come into contact with the air. Pure tung oil and tung oil finishes are two distinct products that should not be confused with each other.

Pure tung oil was brought to the Western world from China around the year 1900. This oil in pure form creates a solid, high-strength finish when applied to a wooden object. While pure oil darkens slightly with age, it doesn’t darken as much as other oils. Pure oil is popular in China and has been used in China for thousands of years to refine numerous wooden objects. The pure oil can also be applied to seaworthy vessels to effectively seal the exterior wood.

Conversely, an oil finish has very little to do with pure oil. Tung oil finish is a popular term, although it does not necessarily refer to tung oil. Since the oil producers were originally confused by the origin of this oil, they started using the word tung loosely. Many manufacturers still use this term to describe the wet look of a finish. Often, the tung oil finish does not contain any oil from the tung tree. An oil finish is often applied to guitars, woodwork, picture frames, kitchen items, and even some forms of masonry.

Since this type of oil comes from a nut, it is important to point out that some people may be allergic to it. This oil is often applied to wooden bowls, spoons, cutting boards, and other food-related items, which can pose a serious threat to people with nut-related allergies.

Also, some contractors may use tung tree oil to make marble and granite kitchen countertops shine. As with any wooden bowl or spoon, adding this oil to your kitchen counter could trigger nut allergies. Therefore, it is important to report any allergies to the contractors before starting any home renovations.

Applying tung tree oil to any object can be difficult. This type of oil needs to be sanded after each application, and each application will take about seven hours to dry. However, this oil proves to be extremely popular with artisans worldwide due to its sheen, durability and absorption qualities.




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