Overview
Pure tung oil forms a tough, all-natural oil finish that seals out water, and is completely unaffected by alcohol or acetone. It penetrates deep into wood pores, sealing the surface and creating a smooth, satiny sheen. This Rockler exclusive finish is made from 100% pure tung oil, making it one of the safest and highest quality oil finishes available. Choose from pint or quart sizes.
Important Notes
- Shipping Restrictions: Ground Transportation Only.
What's included
(1) Rockler's Tung Oil
Technical Details
- Buffing Dry Time: 10 minutes
- Dry to Recoat: 24 hours
- Suggested Application: Cotton rag
- Suggested Surface Prep: Sand through 220 grit and wipe clean
- Clean Up: Mineral Spirits
- Use: Interior
- Brand: Rockler
- Dry Time: 15 min
- Color: Clear
- Size: Pint, Quart
- Use: Interior
Product Warnings
WARNING Cancer and Reproductive Harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/product Technical Downloads
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Questions and Answers
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Browse 18 questions
Browse 18 questions
and 55 answers
Why did you choose this?
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Can you put tung oil on wood that has mineral oil applied?
Can this be used on new outdoor eucalyptus furniture before first use?
Has anyone used the General Finishes Arm-R-Seal (gloss) over the Rockler pure tung oil? If so, how long should I let the tung oil cure before applying Arm-R-Seal? And do I need to prep the tung finish (ie: 0000 steel wool, etc) prior as well?
I made a silverware chest for my great grandmother's wedding set and have about 4 coats of pure tung oil on it. I picked up a pint of this finish for use on another project and absolutely LOVE the results! So much so that I really want to use it on the exterior of the quarter-sawn white oak & lacewood chest, but not at the expense of sanding down the tung oil. Also, any recommendations for masking off areas I don't want the finish to get on (specifically the inside edges of the top and drawer). It's easier to control where it goes, being a wipe on finish, but any extra protection would be great.
Thanks in advance!
I made a silverware chest for my great grandmother's wedding set and have about 4 coats of pure tung oil on it. I picked up a pint of this finish for use on another project and absolutely LOVE the results! So much so that I really want to use it on the exterior of the quarter-sawn white oak & lacewood chest, but not at the expense of sanding down the tung oil. Also, any recommendations for masking off areas I don't want the finish to get on (specifically the inside edges of the top and drawer). It's easier to control where it goes, being a wipe on finish, but any extra protection would be great.
Thanks in advance!
Rockler's Tung Oil
BEST ANSWER: Yes, though for the satin rather than the gloss. I put on 5 coats of Tung and then three of Arm-R-Seal on a red oak panel. I did not sand between the Tung coats, but did sand and hand-buff between the Arm-R-Seal coats to denib and smooth. It worked fine, though I waited 2 weeks+ before adding that topcoat. Also, I only put the poly on one side of the panel.
Any poly will help with durability, and 4 coats of Tung is probably not enough protection, so do it. Poly can always go over a drying oil, and there's little need to sand under it since the poly makes it irrelevant.
I tried masking off my tenons and mortises from the Tung, with mediocre results. Having used the poly, I think it might work slightly better.
Any poly will help with durability, and 4 coats of Tung is probably not enough protection, so do it. Poly can always go over a drying oil, and there's little need to sand under it since the poly makes it irrelevant.
I tried masking off my tenons and mortises from the Tung, with mediocre results. Having used the poly, I think it might work slightly better.
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- Jason H on Jun 9, 2017
I want to use this on the face of my fireplace will the heat affect this product ( tung oil) ?
Is tung oil good as a musical instrument (guitar) finish?
BEST ANSWER: I think that Lacquer work much better and is a more traditional finish for instruments
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- Rick H Staff on May 16, 2017
Help Rockler Tung oil will not dry. I have used this product before with success, but it is not drying on a Dutch Elm table top. First coat cut (55/50) with mineral spirits was reasonably dry when I applied a second coat of 100% Tung oil. I wiped off the excess afterward. It's been 3 days now and it is still oily to the touch. I was planning to top coat with a General Finishes Oil and Urethane top coat, but I am holding off. Any suggestions how to get it dry, if not how do I take remove it?
BEST ANSWER: First, I'm going to presume the tung oil was "fresh" (not containing globs or such). I personally have not had problems with the Rockler Tung Oil for up to a year when properly stored. You say the first coat was "reasonably" dry. If it was less than 24 hours, it may not have been as dry as you thought. If you applied the second coat and it was not dry, you may be looking at up to 30 days before the top coat "drys". Depending on temperature and humidity, I've had to wait two or three weeks between the full strength top coats. Unfortunately, I have not found or heard of a way to accelerate the drying. Good news is you are on the right track with the oil based Poly top coat. Might want to look at YouTube (Charles Neil, WoodWhisperer, etc.). Removing = taking off top coat of wood. Tung Oil (pure) is a penetrating oil. Not too much else to say. Good luck and lots of patience.
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- Allan on Jun 20, 2017
- Purchased on Aug 9, 2015
can I mix tung oil with a polyeurethane for a table top and if so how do I do it and what type of poly do I use?
Is this good for clear cedar window and door trims?
BEST ANSWER: I would think it would be fine for interior use bit I wouldn't use it for exterior use.
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- GREG K on Sep 30, 2015
- Purchased on Mar 26, 2015
Is this food safe (FDA approved)?
BEST ANSWER: It is labeled as pure (100 percent) Tung oil and should be food safe once cured. I'm not aware of FDA approvals however. There are on-line sources which may bea able to answer that and proved additional information.
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- Ken P on Apr 20, 2015
- Purchased on Mar 6, 2015
I have an ipe wood deck. Can I use Tung Oil on it to bring out the color of the ipe and preserve the wood?
BEST ANSWER: I would recommend this product for rehydrating wood. I have never used it on ipe wood. Even if I was to use it on outdoor surfaces, I would seal it with another product.
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- Eric F on May 14, 2018
- Purchased on May 29, 2016
Is tung oil a good substitute for varnish on kitchen cabinets; if so should it be cut with mineral spirits? thanks
BEST ANSWER: Cut for first coat only. Put on several coats, wipe off excess 15 min later, then sand lightly with 220 grit and put on several coats of urethane or shellac. LIGHTLY sand between coats. Rub with pumace last for a smooth finish.
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- SYP D on Apr 16, 2018
- Purchased on Apr 16, 2016
Can I use Tung Oil on refinishing Hardwood floors?
BEST ANSWER: Tung oil is great for hardwood floors, once it is applied that is. The problem is that tung oil takes some time to cure between coats and then to really cure after the final coat. And you need to do a few coats. It is beautiful when done properly and is easy to freshen up when needed. Unlike many other finishes, if you get a scratch or a scuff in the floor, or if you want to freshen up a high traffic area, it is very easy to fix without having to do the entire floor like you would with a poly finish, for example.
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- Dave L on Jul 10, 2016
Can tung oil be used on pressure treated wood?
BEST ANSWER: I don't see why not. Someone more knowledgeable may give a good reason not to, but here is my reasoning. I used pressure treated (PT) wood for my deck. I coated it with an Olympic clear sealer that, according to can and MSDS sheet, basically boiled linseed oil and dissolved paraffin. The linseed oil is a penetrating oil that goes down into the wood, like tung oil is supposed to, and then cures (dries). So far I see no difference. Now the clear sealant contains UV protectors, and the paraffin that helps waterproof. But unless you need those, it seems like they would both work. Caution: make sure the wood is DRY. Pressure treated pine that I buy from local lumberyards or big box stores are ALWAYS wet; so wet we never even space the boards; knowing they will shrink enough to leave a 1/4" or so gap. That's a lot of moisture content. Now a question/ consideration. Why would one use PT wood indoors? Why would one use PT wood OUTDOORS without UV protection? Although it appears to me you CAN use tung oil on PT wood, there may be more effective & cheaper alternatives. SUMMARY: for small projects not needing UV protection, it should work OK on DRY pressure treated wood. On larger projects outdoors it 'can be used' - but is it wise to do so? Clear sealers are about 1/2 the price & have UV protection. (also note: this particular product of 100% tung oil says "Interior" use.)
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- Paige M on Jul 6, 2018
- Purchased on Jul 10, 2016
Is tung oil non yellowing on light colored wood such as maple?
BEST ANSWER: You will still get a yellow tint using tung oil on light colored woods such as maple. If you are going to use a finish that is non yellowing, try water based finishes. They do the trick
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- CHRISTOPHER W on Nov 7, 2017
- Purchased on Nov 20, 2015
Is this pure tung oil a soft finish, a blend, that dries in the wood? Or does this build up layers like a regular varnish ?
BEST ANSWER: It is a soft finish but it does dry and will build layers. However, each coat is extremely thin and will take forever to get the kind of build you see with varnish.
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- David M on Apr 30, 2017
- Purchased on May 8, 2015
Can it be used over a tung oil that has varnish?
BEST ANSWER: Sorry, I don't know about that. I've always used it on either bare wood or stained wood but never anything that already had a finish on it.
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- GREG K on Aug 2, 2016
- Purchased on Mar 26, 2015
How does this affect the color of the wood, particularly pine?
BEST ANSWER: tung oil leaves a light finish with a slightly amber color
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- Patrick D on Apr 19, 2016
- Purchased on Mar 19, 2015
Reviews
5.0 / 5.0
26 Reviews
No worries
Worked as expected. No issues.
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Hickory tabletop looks great!!
I used the Tung oil on a hickory tabletop that I built. I put on 6-7 coats and I love the look and feel. Not shiny and feels natural. Also brings out the grain pattern.
Hickory table
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Good old 100% pure tung oil. What more is there to say. Nice to find real tung oil.
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Works great
I used this to finish beetle kill pine boards. I thinned it with mineral oil and applied two coats. It worked great and really brought out the contrast of the different colors in the pine. I also appreciated that it is a nato product and doesn’t have a strong smell.
Beetle kill pine finished with tung oil
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Rocklers Tung Oil an excellent product
I have been a professional woodworker for over 50 years. I was always taught to back-prime all exterior wood products. I placed one coat of 50/50 Tung Oil and whole spirits of turpentine for the first coat on all weather exposed lawn furniture 3 years ago and 100 % on the second coat on Adirondack cedar chairs, they are still as beautiful as when I put it on. Made for a fifty year Wedding Anniversary gift. Awesome.
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Best Organic Finish Ever!!!
The very best organic finish.
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First time using real Tung oil.
Kept trying various tung oil Finishes, but none gave the desired result. Broke down and got the real stuff. So glad I did. Chatoyance pops. Real character and depth. Finish is smooth without being shiny. Looks like fine finished wood. Not plastic, but not bare. Perfect.
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This is a very good product
I used this tung oil to great effect on an unfinished walnut rifle stock. It really brought out the figure and character of the wood grain. The wood now seems to be impenetrable by water and much more difficult to scuff or ding. Smells nice, too.
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It's worth the time and work.
Using the tung oil to finish a slab of walnut to use as a base for to ham radios. Wet sanded with 320 grit, now 600 grit, then rubbing with a pommel. Let dry for a week and continue with 600 grit and more rubbing. The depth of the grain and glass like finish is beautiful.
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