Thread: A question on wood finishing

I'm finishing a hickory cane/walking stick. I've read a lot of info on-line and I'm leaning toward using pure tung oil because it seems to be the most water resistant oil finish. There is much confusing information though. Some products contain tung oil, but other ingredients as well. Do any of you craftsman have any insight? I want to keep a natural wood finish and feel to the cane. I don't want a real "hard" poly-whatever feel. Thanks for any info.

Jordan

Bob Flexner's book on wood finishing cover this subject very well. You can get pure tung oil at woodworking stores. Alot of what is sold as tung oil is tung oil or tung/linseed oil and varnish/resin mixtures.

To use the pure oil just put it on let it soak then wipe it ALL off. Let it dry then repeat the process over and over and steel wool every so often till you are happy with the results. If you do not wipe all of the oil off you will get a sticky film.

Be safe with the rags.

If you have an oil and want to know if there is a large percentage of varnish in it you can tell by the way it dries. Put a drop of oil on glass and let it dry. If it dries smooth and hard it has alot of varnish or resins in it, if it dries wrinkly there is a large percentage of oil in it.



Charlie

I used boiled linseed oil not too long ago with good results. Only one soak was really needed. Wiped off the excess and let it dry for a couple of days and it seems to do the job. Different wood, but even with a dense wood it soaked in and still allowed the surface to retain its texture.

Tung oil should work well, though. I don't know much about any additives between different products. Rubbing it down with glass after you're finished will add some smoothness/gloss to it.

Waterlox is great tung oil based finish. It is on sale at Woodcraft: Buy Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish, Quart

If you get to Norwalk you can go to the Woodworker's Club on the Post Road (Westport Ave) and check out a variety of great products and tools.

Brad