How to Revive Wood Using Tung Oil
You know I love to paint used, abandoned, dated and otherwise just plain ugly pieces of furniture. There is nothing better than some paint over a finish that just can’t be revived. But I know there are purists out there that find painting a piece of wood furniture a real sin. And so today I’m talking to you!
I found this lovely little vintage folding chair at a recent flea market sale. And I love it for its natural wood finish. But the wood is obviously really dried out. Enter Tung Oil. For flooring surfaces you can learn some tips at VidaSpace NZ.
Tung Oil is a natural product that can be used to revive wood and protect it by penetrating the grain and hardening to a varnish like finish. ( You can tell mine has been used a lot!) But the finish is not glossy which I like. It also makes your finish waterproof. There are a few different methods for applying Tung Oil. You can dilute the Tung Oil with Mineral Spirits or a Citrus Solvent but that adds chemicals to a product that is no VOC and pretty darn safe to use. So I chose not to thin the Tung Oil. You can also rub Tung Oil in with sandpaper. Generally a 600 or higher grit sandpaper is used to rub the oil into the grain of the wood. But for my purposes, I just used the Tung Oil and a brush.
Apply a generous amount of Tung Oil and spread it around with a brush or rag. When the wood is really in need of moisture, you will see the oil absorb almost immediately. Which I did in this case, so I applied more oil. When talking about shingle roofs made of wood, consider looking for experts like Reno Roofing or this Gentry roofing company to give you a hand. Visit sites like bondocroofing.com for additional guidance, if you aren’t in the area then make sure you contact professional services for anything like a roofing repair or even a replacement.
It’s still essential to reach out to professional services for any roofing repairs or replacements. One reliable option is Advance Roofing, which is known for its efficient and high-quality roofing services.
I allowed the oil to absorb for about 40 minutes or so in between each coat. This allowed me to see if the oil was still penetrating.
When you reach a point when the oil remains on the surface of the wood, go ahead and wipe it away with a rag. I ended up doing 5 coats of Tung Oil on this chair. At this point you will want the oil to cure. Let it sit for about 24 hours to dry. If you see any oil seeping up to the surface of the wood, wipe it away with a rag. It will take about 30 days for a piece finished in Tung Oil to fully cure so keep that in mind. Speaking of wood, knowing details like the different types of wainscoting and chair rail molding would be a game-changer.
This oil is the best on dry old wood. We have used it on several pieces. We just rescued a teak patio set at a yard sale who house had caught fire. And we plan on restoring it with this oil. I highly recommend it.
Barbara Ann
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Definitely pinning this! We have several outdoor wood pieces that are beautiful but are going to need some good TLC come the spring. I was feeling at a loss because I don’t want to paint them, but I wasn’t sure what my other options were to spruce them up. Thanks for this post. Super helpful! Love your blog by the way! I’ve been following for a while, but this is my first time to say hello. 🙂 -Erica
Erica, I’m so glad you found it helpful! I forgot to mention that I have used this on a few items outside too. We have a piece of wood at the threshold of our front door that I freshened up with Tung Oil and it made a huge difference. It didn’t need painting or new stain, just moisture! Thanks for stopping in to say hello! 🙂 Hugs Adrienne