Unlike mineral oil, it dries with a slight sheen, and it is much more water resistant. Danish oil is a hard drying oil, meaning it can polymerize into a solid form when it reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere. Danish oil is not pure oil; it is a mixture of Tung oil, varnish, linseed oil, and mineral spirits. It will protect your woodwork from scratches, damages done by chemical or heat, stains, etc., leaving behind a beautiful satiny finish. Once you have used a product like Antique Danish Oil (which is an oil varnish combination), you cannot go back to using just an oil as it will not penetrate into the wood properly. It is not durable. Tips for Applying Danish OilA well-sanded surface will bring out the best in your furniture. Apart from that, tung oil is totally eco-friendly and non-toxic. Once it is properly applied and cured, your furniture will be safe from absorbing water. 2). After a lot of hours spent sanding wood, you want the wood to have a beautiful finish, but you are torn between whether to use Danish oil or tung oil. Tung oil is safe to be used in making kitchen utensils as it is an all-natural and non-toxic product. And keep in mind, I am talking about oil FINISHES...not REAL tung oil. I hope to pass some knowledge and expertise. Tung Oil. Now I mix my background with computers with my first-hand experience with woodworking to provide insights into the tools I like best. As it is organic and all-natural, tung oil does not have any toxic elements. Copyright © 2020 WoodworkingToolkit.com. You need to wait 24 or more hours for the wood to cure properly before you can apply another coating of tung oil. Satin finish. It is made by mixing a small amount of varnish into a larger amount of curing or penetrating oil, such as tung oil or linseed oil. I wanted to work with my hands, to build things. Beware: Some finishes with "tung oil" in their name contain little or no real tung oil as an ingredient. All the finishes were tested on pieces of red-oak plywood cut from the same sheet. And it needs fewer coats and curing time as well. Tung Oil vs. Linseed Oil: Which Should You Use? Tung Oil vs. BLO – To compare the two finishes, Vaughn MacMillan applied boiled linseed oil to the left half and tung oil to the right half of this platter. Tung oil is a natural product with a transparent, deep, and golden look. It is derived from nuts from tung trees that are indigenous to China, and so is also known as China wood oil. Unlike other oils, Danish oil does not become yellow with age. Sign up now to receive updates about all the latest in woodworking PLUS get invited to exclusive tool giveaways... WoodworkingToolkit.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising programdesigned to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Coming to the end of this side by side comparison of Danish oil vs tung oil, you can see that they each have their specific uses. Some are thinner and dry quicker, some are more pure oil and dry slowly. It should be obvious by now, that your choice of either Danish or tung oil depends on the work you have on hand. Both oils can achieve the result of a finish on your woodwork, but maintenance and durability as well as the amount of time invested in finishing the item is one big difference between tung oil and Danish oil. They are: Greater amount of effort is necessary as pure tung oil penetrates wood very slowly. When applied to a raw surface, the oil hardens to protect and add luster to the wood. My entrepreneurial journey started in 2006, when I dropped out of university. It seeps into the wood faster than other oils such as Tung oil and so can be used on hardwoods such as cherry, oak, maple, ironwood, and mahogany. However, the addition of other materials makes Danish oil different in nature from tung oil. At the end of the day, what type of oil you want to use depends on the time and effort you are willing to put in your woodwork. Today, it continues to offer the best water-resistance properties among wood finishing oils. Pure Tung Oil: It is tung oil in its purest form devoid of additives like petroleum distillates, minerals or thinners. This oil has a longer shelf life than tung oil. It dries quickly and cures to a nice satin finish. That penetration gives a depth to the wood's grain that's hard to achieve with a film finish. Here are a few advantages of the tung oil: It is known for being waterproof and has been used for hundreds of years for its ability to make wood waterproof. Tung Oil v. Teak Oil vs. Danish Oil Watco Danish Oil is a good product for what it is but it is NOT what it sounds like... a true oil. Linseed oil, on the other hand, dries more quickly and applies very easily, but won’t give much protection from water. are similar but slightly different blends of linseed oil or tung oil, a little bit of varnish resin, and some thinner / drying agent. However, tung oil penetrates wood slowly as it is 100% oil, so it has to be thinned down with thinner or mineral spirits. Furthermore, it prevents cracking on the surface and increases the lifespan of the wood. Following is a side by side comparison of their most important features. So in a nutshell, Danish oil has the following advantages: It is perfect for you if you are a beginner or novice woodworker as you can just apply it on the bare surface of the wood without any hassle. However, there is also a possibility of spontaneous combustion due to exothermic combustion. Danish oil, which is yet another natural finish, is actually a type of Tung oil. Although it is also known as Chinese wood oil or linseed oil, it is definitely different from the latter. I will assume you plan to wipe on and wipe off your PTO finish and not put on an excessive amount, (thus not expecting it to "flow" or layout" onto the surface in abundance). But if you are short on time, you can go for Danish oil as it cures faster and it is easier to use. Oak. Behlens makes a good tung oil available in the US (Lee Valley is not). Tung oil hardens completely, but it also remains wonderfully elastic, and so contraction or expansion of wood does not affect the coating. How many coats of tung oil should be used? As Tung oil polymerizes completely after it is cured, it leaves behind a very hard coating on the surface of the wood, and so keeps it safe from scratches, acidic components, dents, etc. Tung oil provides the best waterproof coating amongst all oil treatments. Tung oil is best used for indoor furniture to make the surface of furniture to be glossier and warmer. 100% oil often has difficulty penetrating wood, so it's usually thinned down with mineral spirits or with a thinner. Danish oil is basically a mixture of various components such as tung oil or linseed oil, as well as a mixture of varnish, mineral spirits, etc. Also, because of its slow penetration of the wood, sanding before every application of tung oil is required. Tung oil is a component used to make Danish oil. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. If you've heard of both tung and Danish oils, but just can't seem to choose one over the other for your project, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at the two.Both oils provide protection for your furniture, but they do it in different ways. Real tung oil is usually labeled 100% tung oil and never contains a thinner. Its name appeared the second half of the 20th century when many companies in Europe produced Danish oil from various kinds of ingredients. Teak oil is used for both interior and exterior wooden surfaces. If however, you are working on a masterpiece or something that has to do with food, then tung oil will probably be what you need. The tung oil is a bit lighter, and this difference will get more noticeable as time passes. After 2 or 3 coats, wipe the wood 2 or 3 times with an hour interval each, and that's it, you're finished. Dark Tung Oil: This form is the same as pure tung oil, but with a pigmented resin added for color. Tung Oil Uses (Indoor vs Outdoor Uses) Appearance. It’s also known as hard-drying oil, which can polymerize into a compact form when it reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere. This oil can protect Wood from various damages like stains, scratches, heat damage and chemical damage. This article is aimed at helping you decide which oil you want to use to finish your woodwork. Tung oil has disadvantages, as well. Tung Oil is formulated to be used over bare, stained or previously oiled woods. Boiled Linseed Oil vs Tung Oil When specifically comparing Tung Oil vs Linseed Oil, each has their own pros and cons. So, if you don't have the patience or the time, then Danish oil will definitely be a great time saver. Tung oil can be used on oak to maintain its colour, however, if you wish to darken the oak then hard wax oil is preferable. It also provides a beautiful golden color to wood. These usually include varnish, a thinner, and some tung oil, although some manufacturers will use a completely different oil and not tung.Pros. Sure enough, it leaves a good-looking surface on the wood. This oil is ideal for beginners, as its application is quite easy. Best Roller For Staining Deck in 2021 : Find Perfect One Now, Best Wax For Chalk Paint : Find Great One From Our List, 10 Best Furniture Sliders for Hardwood Floors & Carpet in 2021, 10 Best Router Bit For Cutting Letters & Sign Making in 2021, Top 10 Best Nailer For Baseboards in 2021. In conclusion, Danish oil is a specific type of finishing oil made from either tung or linseed oil. Danish oil is a wood finishing oil, often made of polymerized linseed oil or tung oil that helps you achieve a lustrous wood finish. But this applies only for tung oil that is 100% natural, not those that have been mixed with thinners. Tung oil is more water resistant, but takes a long time to dry and requires many coats. Danish oil is rather similar to teak oil in its composition. Tung Oil. Watco Danish Oil doesn't last long and needs constant re-application. All commercial oil finishes, whether labeled truoil, danish oil, gun oil, tung oil, boiled linseed oil, etc. Tung oil is a plant-based oil used as a wood finish. Tung oil has been in use for centuries; it was used by Chinese in building ships and was also mentioned by Confucius in about 400 BC in his writings. Tung oil dries quickly and penetrates the wood deeply. Your email address will not be published. There is no fixed formula of Danish oil, and so it varies according to the manufacturer. Tung oil is used mainly on furniture, cabinets, interior doors, and trim and is very easy to apply, recoat, and maintain. So it may be hazardous for health if it is used to make materials in which food is stored. Danish oil is a type of wood finishing oil, which is made using either tung or linseed oil. Although there is no exact formula for Danish oil, it is usually made using oil and varnish.The resulting coat is often water-resistant and hard-wearing. The primary differences between linseed oil and tung oil are as follows: Linseed oil “yellows” more than tung oil. Pure tung oil vs linseed oil . Tung oil leaves an all-natural transparent yet deep golden, wet look on the surface of the wood. It needs maintenance more frequently than any other type of oil treatment. One important aspect of tung oil is its water-resistant properties. The author tested 15 wipe-on finishes, including a water-based finish and both tung-oil and linseed-oil-based finishes. Danish oil is basically a mixture of various components such as tung oil or linseed oil, as well as a mixture of varnish, mineral spirits, etc. It takes a long time to cure woods coated with Tung oil properly. I love everything about woodworking and have been building stuff for over 20 years of my life. In fact, tung oil is often used in making Danish oil, but the addition of other substances gives Danish oil different characteristics from tung oil.Danish oil is easier to use than tung oil because it penetrates wood faster and it also dries faster than tung oil. This made it popular with the Chinese for use in shipbuilding thousands of years ago. Both these oil are wood finishing oil, but both oil function in different manners. Pure boiled linseed oil and Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane, a brushing finish, were added for comparison. Danish oil is used to finish and protect wood surfaces from moisture. It penetrates the wood easily and dries faster due to its mixture of various components. One advantage of Danish oil is that it hardens as it comes into contact with air (if it consists of polymerized linseed oil). All types. Tung oil forms a hard surface once cured; at the same time, it is water-proof, durable, and has a glossy finish that gives the wood a ‘wet’ look. Typically a Danish oil consists of a mixture of tung oil and varnish. Compressing the nut enables the excretion of the oil, which is then further refined. Tung oil and BLO were thicker. It has less of a gloss than varnish, but a more velvet-like feel and a visible grain. Glossy & hard finish. In contrast to Danish oil, which is a composite of various elements, including varnish and oil and sometimes thinner, tung oil is a completely natural product. However, there is a variety of tung oil in the market available, which is made thinner by adding chemicals, so be careful and read the label. Tips for Applying Tung OilIf you want to get the best from tung oil, then you should get your hands on pure (100%) tung oil and thin it down by yourself. Tung oil cures to a hard surface, which is both durable and beautiful at once. Danish oil and so called tung oil finishes are varnishes. Danish oil has a good rate of wood penetration and it's very easy to apply without problems. For me, I prefer Formby's Tung Oil finish...but I have tried Watco danish oil, teak oil finish and several other oil finishes. Leave a minimum of 24 hours curing time before coats and always sand the surface before each additional coat. This oil also has linseed oil, varnish, and mineral spirits. If it is a masterpiece and you have a lot of time, you can go for Tung oil as it is known for its color and durability. After about 20 minutes of applying them, I noticed that Howards’ Cutting Board oil was the runniest of them all, but Danish oil was pretty thin and runny too. Oil/varnish mixes, such as Danish oil, enhance grain while laying down a thin film. If you have a particular shade in mind, you can simply mix various tints to get your desired shade, and then you can also use it as a primer or sealer. You can mix tints to it to produce specific shades and you are free to either use it as a primer or as a sealer.Although Danish oil and teak oil are both blends of finishing oils, varnishes, and mineral spirits, the major difference between the 2 is that Danish oil creates a more waterproof and hard-wearing surface, much like pure tung oil.Pros. It is, in fact, a mixture of many different resins and oils and sometimes, other solvents. 5 Best Paint Sprayers of 2020 – Reviews & Buying Guide, 5 Best Weed Killers for Gardens – Reviews & Buying Guide. Unlike Danish oil, tung oil requires 6 or more coats to stain the wood properly. "Tung Oil Finish" is a marketing name for products that the manufacturer thinks will result in a finish like the finish you get from a true tung oil. Danish Oil. That is, it turns more orange as it ages. This makes it one of the easiest and most effective coats you can use. Amongst all other oil treatments available, Tung oil is the only on that polymerizes (hardens) completely and does not darken as it ages and is less vulnerable to molds. It is developed from the nut of the tung tree. Water damages can ruin all your hard work, so make sure to pick up Danish oil that will leave a waterproof coating on your furniture. You should try to apply it in the same direction as the grain for best results, and if you are in a hurry, just apply your coats with 30-minute intervals. These "Tung Oil Finishes" may contain some true tung oil, but most do not. All Rights Reserved. Your final choice, therefore, depends on what you plan to do and how much time you have available.Danish oil cures faster and is easier to use, but tung oil looks better and is food safe. It penetrates into the wood, unlike a film finish, which sits on the surface. Difficulty penetrating wood, so the finish will never crack or peel, unlike polyurethane wooden.... 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