Hi I’m finishing a stock with Pure aged tung oil by Milkpaint, mixed with 5050 citrus solvent. The drying time for this is very long, anyone know when its a good point to add additional coats ?
I have finished over three dozen gunstocks with Tung oil. For the Tung oil process I use, I start with at 50% or more mix of Stoddard solvent (mineral spirts) with pure Tung oil. I apply a generous coat and let the stock sit for 30 minutes or so, then wipe ‘dry’ with a rag. Note, be careful with how you dispose of any Tung oil soaked rags, they will spontaneously combust. I will repeat the about process every hour or so, until the wood doesn’t seem to be absorbing any more Tung oil, up to four or five times the first day. Each coat takes but a few minutes to apply, and the wiped down goes quick. The following day I’ll repeat with one or two coats. The wood will not soak anywhere near as much Tung oil as on day one. I’ll skip adding any coats on day three, then apply one or two coats on day four. If the finish looks good the next day, I’m finished, just have to let it full cure, which takes three to four weeks, though you can handle the stock well before that. Also learned not to put the stock out in the sun before cured, or some of the oil will bubble up onto the surface.
I have finished numerous stocks with this process and find it to be a durable and forgiving finish. It doesn’t blister or chip like some poly coats when scratched. You just apply a bit more Tung oil to the damaged area and it will blend right in, adds to the wood’s character. I started using Tung oil on Milsurp stocks that are up to 100 years old or so. These are competition guns that get used and abused in all types of weather. At times from rapid firing and the hot sun the wooden forearms get too hot to hold. The Tung oil finish comes through unscathed.
Here is a photograph of TC stock finished with Tung Oil 10-15 years ago. It has seen a lot of time in the woods and on the range. Any scratches, nicks or dings are covered with light touch up coats every so often and just add to the stock’s character
There is concern that some people may be allergic to Tung oil, as the US military decided years ago to stop using it because of than concern. Tung oil, by the way, comes from the seeds of tree’s fruit (like the seed in a peach pit for example), and are not nuts. In a British study of people with tree nut allergies, none were found to have a reaction to refined Tung oil. A Canadian study found the risk of allergy to Tung oil to be about 0.1% of the population.
