Tung oil: production, application, properties, reviews

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The best way to protect wooden products is natural oil. There are several oils that have proven themselves over the centuries, one of them is tung oil. It is obtained from the fruits of the tung tree.

Origin

Tung tree is also called oil tree, it is common in China, Japan, where its range is natural, and is grown in Australia, Canada, East Asia and some other regions. More than 500 thousand tons of tung nuts are harvested annually, from which about 91 thousand tons of oil are produced. Tung oil has been used by Chinese and Japanese cabinetmakers for several centuries, perfectly preserving both wood art and simple everyday items.

Fabrics were also impregnated with oil to make them water-repellent, later they were used for sewing shoes, rain umbrellas, camping tents. Tung oil was indispensable in the construction of ships - boards were impregnated with it, and the cake obtained after pressing, mixed with bamboo shavings, lime and oil, served as putty for ships. In medicine, the oil was used as an emetic, it is part of the medicinalointments that help in the treatment of burns, abscesses of varying severity.

Features and price

Tung oil for wood is perfect. Unlike most oils used for wood processing, tung polymerizes not only on the surface of the product, but in the mass of wood, where it quickly penetrates.

Main properties of tung oil:

• environmentally friendly natural product;
• gives water repellency to wood;
• protects wood from fungus, mold;
• penetrates deeply and quickly into the layers of wood;
• forms a polymer film on the wood surface;
• almost does not yellow the product;
• highlights the natural grain of the wood;
• reliably protects the surface from abrasion;
• suitable for any type of wood;
• no extra effort or knowledge is required to apply the oil;
• low material consumption: about 100-150 grams per square meter of a single coat.

There are no places in Russia where the tung tree grows, but it does not hurt to buy tung oil. The price of one liter ranges from 825 rubles. up to 2,289 rubles. The cost depends on the manufacturer.

Protection for a wooden house

Tung oil is used to protect wooden products exposed to external influences. Oil-treated wood is perfectly preserved, lasts a long time and does not lose its qualities, beauty under the influence of rain, frost, heat, dry air and sudden changes.temperatures. These preservative qualities make it possible to forget about repair work when laying wooden floors in gazebos, open verandas and unheated premises for a long time.

Houses made of timber treated with tung oil last a long time, the oil keeps the timber whole, antiseptic properties protect the wood from rotting, mold, fungi. Pathogenic flora cannot multiply on the surface and in the mass of wood.

Luxury furniture

Wooden furniture treated with tung oil lasts for many generations: it does not fade with time, retains the beauty and depth of the wood pattern. At flea markets, you can sometimes find antique furniture of Italian, Russian production with stunningly finished wooden inserts, legs, overlays, or made of solid wood. Almost all the details of such furniture are treated with tung oil, which has not been used before. The reviews of the masters who use tung oil in their work once again confirm the long-proven qualities, which allows you to be sure of the excellent result of your work.

Modern restoration work is indispensable without this natural wood preservative. Covering new parts with authentic impregnation to replace the lost or restored ones, the master revives the piece of furniture for later life. Wooden furniture, new or old, will last a long time and will delight many generations of the family. But if there is a desire to paint the product, then the paint with natural ingredients will easily fall on the treated surface,which will additionally protect the wooden parts.

Other applications

The properties of the oil are such that they protect the wood in the harshest conditions, such as sea s alt water. The high water-repellent qualities of wood treated with tung oil are successfully used not only in the construction of houses or ships, boats, but also in more utilitarian places, for example, in the bathroom or in the kitchen. A thin film on the surface of wood is very resistant, so tung oil can easily protect parquet, floorboards, steps from abrasion.

Loved for its numerous and undeniable qualities, tung oil and craftsmen who make musical instruments. According to their reviews, only this type of oil gives the violins a unique satin sheen, has a positive effect on the sound of the instrument, making each of them unique. These properties were used by both ancient masters and our contemporaries, who are reverent about the traditions of tool making.

Tung Oil Coating Materials

Paints and varnishes, including tung oil, are distinguished by increased durability and high consumer qualities. Tung oil, mixed with linseed oil, makes it possible to obtain a wood impregnation mixture that enhances the qualities of each. Adding tung oil to lacquers, paints and enamels makes these finishing materials more durable, resistant to alkalis, acids and other aggressive environments.

On the surface of products paintedor varnished with compositions based on tung oil, a durable polymer film is formed that is resistant to minor mechanical damage, stress abrasion, water and moisture. Using pure oil requires about a day to dry before the next work. Varnishes, paints based on tung oil dry much faster, which speeds up finishing work without compromising quality.

How to use

It is very easy to use tung oil in practice. It is important to properly prepare the wooden surface for processing. The wood is sanded with fine grain sandpaper. Before applying the oil, the product must be thoroughly dried: if you process a wet tree, you will not be able to avoid fungus and decay. The best temperature for work is +15 degrees Celsius. The oil is applied to the surface in a thin layer, after drying, the procedure must be repeated.

Complete absorption and drying after treatment is 24 hours. The oil is applied with a brush or rag, moving along the wood fibers. After soaking, the surface is polished with a soft natural cloth, this allows you to remove excess impregnation and gives a satin shimmering sheen. Another positive quality is the resistance of the oil to low temperatures, it does not lose its properties if stored in an unheated room, and retains all qualities when frozen. Can be stored for about five years.

Safety

Tung oil has a characteristic not very pleasant smell. Manynote that it is too sharp. In general, the oil is harmless. The tools used in the work are easily washed with turpentine or gasoline. But most often they use old rags for oil work, which they throw away without regret.

To fully comply with safety precautions, dampen the used cloth with water to avoid accidental ignition, and put it in a plastic bag. Hands and parts of the body that have come into contact with natural impregnation are easily washed with warm water and simple soap. If oil gets into your eyes, be sure to rinse them with plenty of cool water.