5 Best Tung Oil (Review of the Wood Preservers) in 2023

Tung oil’s duty is to preserve the wood from scratches and splints. But what if you pick the wrong one?

You’ll have to put in more effort to apply the oil and if things go south your furniture may not get the finish that you were aiming for.

So, you have to be wise and pick the best tung oil for yourself.

You see, different tung oil gives different finishes and has different drying types. And there are people out there that need different results.

Hence, we have compiled a list of 5 of the best products on the market to serve a different purpose. Why don’t you give the product’s description a read and find out the suitable ones for you?

So, get your engines ready. That’s because we are fully prepared to start the show now-

1. Hope 692-16TO12 Wood Finish

Hope 692-16TO12 Wood Finish

  • Type of tung oil: Pure tung oil
  • Available sizes: 128 fl oz, 32 fl oz, 16 fl oz
  • Drying time: 12 hours
  • Curing time: 48 hours
  • Coverage: 120 sq ft for 32 fl oz
  • Finish: Low-gloss

On the top of our little list, we have the Hope 692-16TO12 Wood Finish. Now, you might have a lot of hope for this product because it’s the number one but is it really the right choice for you. Well, stick around to find out.

Firstly, you’ll get a low gloss finish that will make your surface shine but it won’t reflect too much light. You’ll get a low shimmer. And the best part is this tung oil can work on different surfaces.

You can use it on new unfinished wood, weathered wood, stripped wood, concrete floors and countertops, even brick, stone, and cast iron. Yep, it even works on iron. You’ll be able to get a low gloss on them by using this oil.

Plus, this pure tung oil is non-toxic in nature. So, you can use it near food and won’t have to live in the fear of having a bad case of a tummy ache. It won’t harm your food for you.

On the other hand, the drying time for this product is quite decent. You’ll only have to wait for half a day to get the tung oil dried up. But if you want the oil to fully cure then you’ll have to wait for 3 days.

If you compare it with the other pure oil this is quite a low drying time. Plus, the coverage is also good. You get 120 sq ft coverage for 32 fl oz.

Now, that’s not a lot when compared to the others but it’s not the least value in the least either. On top of all these, this oil is also super easy to use. You only have to wipe on the tung oil using a towel and allow the oil to cure at room temperature.

Yep, do that and your work is done. After that, all you have to do is wait. But the best part about this is that it’s the most budget-friendly product on our list. Along with all the benefits you get to save a few bucks as well. Isn’t that great?

In short, this is a pure tung oil that dries up in a fairly decent time. And you can use it on different surfaces.

2. Real Milk Paint Half and Half Pure Tung Oil

Real Milk Paint Half and Half Pure Tung Oil

  • Type of tung oil: Pure tung oil
  • Available sizes: 16, 32, 128 fl oz
  • Dying time: 7 to 10 days
  • Curing time: 15 to 30 days
  • Coverage: 32 oz. covers 100 sq. feet
  • Finish: All-natural wood finish

Secondly, we have the Real Milk Paint Half and Half Pure Tung Oil. This one’s a real tung oil but what else does it have to offer? Well, why don’t we find out?

The best part about this tung oil is the fact that it doesn’t need any additional mixes. You can use it straight out of the bottle. However, if you feel like adding a few thinners to this oil you can.

It’ll speed up the drying time and the paint will harden quickly. You see, in reality it takes quite a long time to dry. To be exact, it requires more than a week to dry. And that’s a long time.

Even the curing process takes a whole month. So, you’ll have to have a lot of patience to get the work done. But if you do stick around to use this product you’ll get a natural finish that can bring out the best look of the furniture.

To make things easy, it’s available in a few sizes so you can buy the ones that you’ll be needing. Now for measurements note that the 32 oz sized container will be able to cover 100 sq ft.

The coverage might not be that great but it’s still decent for usage. Now, if you want more coverage then simply buy the bigger-sized container.

Plus, this finish is safe to be used in places that might have contact with food. Like salad bowls or cutting boards. They all can be refurbished using this finish to give a natural glow.

3. Real Milk Paint Dark Tung Oil 32oz

Real Milk Paint Dark Tung Oil 32oz

  • Type of tung oil: Dark tung oil
  • Available sizes: 8, 16, 32, 128 fl oz
  • Drying time: 24-48 hours
  • Curing time: 15-30 days
  • Coverage: 32 oz. covers 100 sq. feet
  • Type of finish: Aged antique

In third place, we have the Real Milk Paint Dark Tung Oil, 32oz. Yep, it’s another one of Real milk paint’s products. But wait, there’s a twist. Now, if you want to know what’s different about this product then let’s have a look-

Firstly, this is the only product that is dark tung oil. Now, you might know that dark tung oil has a few chemicals fixed in it to give the tung oil a darker color.

For some people, this might be a deal-breaker. That’s because the dark tung oil exposes you to VOCs. That can be harmful to your body. However, if you take enough precautions and apply the tung oil carefully you get a dark shade.

To be exact, this oil gives you an aged antique finish on your wooden surfaces. That makes your wooden furniture or door look vintage and it pops out the old look of woods to beautify the furniture.

Aside from this, the Real Milk Paints dark tung oil is available in different sizes. Starting from 8 fl oz to 128 fl oz you get a lot of different sizes to choose from. 

Hence, if you’re looking for something small you can have your hands on them and vice versa. In fact, you won’t have to worry about wasting the product.

Plus, the drying time is quite reasonable. It takes one to 3 days for the tung oil to dry. So, don’t touch the surface covered with tung oil in the meantime. After that, you can toughen them up.

However, we’ll advise you to wait for a full month before fully using the furniture. By that time the wooden surface will harden and form a great layer of coating.

But the coverage isn’t too great. It only covers 100 sq ft for 32 fl oz. That’s not a lot if you compare it to the rest of the products. However, it’s not that much of a difference either.

4. Liberon LIBTO1L Pure Tung Oil

Liberon LIBTO1L Pure Tung Oil

  • Type of tung oil: Pure tung oil
  • Available sizes: 33.8, 16.9, 8.45 fl oz
  • Drying time: 24 hours
  • Curing time: 4 days
  • Coverage: 100-130ft²
  • Finish type: matt

Moving on, we have Liberon LIBTO1L Pure Tung Oil. Now, this is another one of our tung oil but this one has a few things to offer that the rest of the products couldn’t Let’s check out whether these things benefit you or not-

Well, if you were looking for a pure tung oil that can provide a matt finish then this is the one for you.

Once you apply this tung oil you will not get a glossy surface. In fact, the finish will dry to become a matt surface that looks quite aesthetic. Now, the others do provide surfaces that are not glossy. But this one provides true matt finishing.

Plus, you get to use them on kitchen worktops, chopping boards, and salad bowls. This is because it doesn’t have added chemicals. That makes the product safe to use near edible items.

Speaking of usage, you can use this product both inside and outside of your house. You see, it’s waterproof, resistant to heat, and even alcohol splashes. So, it’ll fit in any place you put it in.

On top of this, the product dries within one day. Now, this is the lowest time required for any of the pure tung oil to dry, from our list. However, you should note that to fully cure you must wait for at least 4 days.

5. Minwax 67500000 Tung Oil Finish

Minwax 67500000 Tung Oil Finish

  • Type of tung oil: Oil-varnish blend
  • Available sizes: 16 & 32 fl oz
  • Drying time: 5 to 10 minutes
  • Curing time: 24 hours
  • Coverage: 125-150 sq ft for 32 fl oz
  • Finish: Natural & hand-rubbed

At the bottom of our list, we have the Minwax 67500000 Tung Oil Finish. Now, we understand that it’s the end of the barrel but wait. It still has features that just might fill your requirements. Have a quick peek to see if it’s what you want-

Firstly, we have to warn you that it’s neither a pure tung oil nor is it a dark tung oil. It’s the only product on our list that’s a mixture of oil and varnish. It’s called an oil-varnish blend.

Now, the best thing about this mixture of tung oil is that it dries super fast. And we’re kidding. While others take days this only takes 5 to 10 minutes. 

That’s a huge difference and if you’re looking to get quick results this is the one for you. But remember you have to wait for one whole day for the oil to fully cure.

Moreover, the finish you’ll get will be natural. In fact, this tung oil will increase the beauty of the wood you’re working on. And you’ll get a hand-rubbed finish that is simply a great touch for the house.

On top of all these, the tung oil provides a lot of coverage when compared to the other products. To be exact, this product covers from 120 to 150 sq ft. That’s a lot if you compare it with the over.

However, this is only for 32 oz size containers. The others will cover more spaces if you go for the bigger sizes.

Plus, it nourishes the wood. And it penetrates deep into the wood to restore vitality to dry, thirsty wood. So, your furniture looks brand new and well managed.

Lastly, we would like to add that this tung oil is resistant to water, acid, alkali, and mildew. So, no matter what you use, that product will not damage over time.

Types of Tung Oil: Classification of Tung Oil

The first thing to know about tung oil is its type. You see, even one oil has a few classifications of its own. Typically there are 3 types of tung oil.

One is called pure tung oil. While the others are called dark tung oil and oil-varnish blend tung oil. Come on, let’s look at them in more detail-

1. Pure Tung Oil

As the name suggests you get the purest form of tung oil. That means there are no harmful additives.

The best part about this is that harmful chemicals like hydrocarbons, petroleum, or paint thinners are missing from this type of tung oil. Thus you’re not exposed to a lot of VOCs. What is VOC?

Well, VOS stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. As you don’t come in contact with a lot of chemicals thus you can be quite safe while using such tung oils.

From the pure tung oil, you get a honey color. In fact, it works to enhance the natural color of the wood that you’re working on.

2. Dark Tung Oil

On the other hand, you have dark tung oil. They are mixed with resinous hydrocarbons. So, they are not that pure. But you do end up with a color that’s darker than the wood you’re working with.

However, you’ll be exposed to a lot of VOCs. It’ll be best if you wear masks while applying such finishes.

3. Oil-Varnish Blend Tung Oil

Another type of varnish is called the oil-varnish blend This oil is a mixture of tung oil with a few doses of varnish. This type of tung oil was invented so that the drying time could be faster.

You see, the tungs, especially the pure ones take a long time to fully dry up and cure. Thus this type of tung oil was invented so that it can reduce the pain of waiting to some degree.

How is Tung Oil Different from Other Oil-Based Finishes?

The tung oi’s aim is to protect, nurture, and amplify the wood’s beauty. And they do a far better job than the other types of finishes in the market. Plus, it’s eco-friendly because the pure tung oils don’t have any additives.

Making them an excellent choice for areas that are exposed to food. Like the kitchen or dining table. It also distinguishes itself from other finishes by being long-lasting, durable, and easily repairable.

Plus, it’s waterproof So, water will not be able to damage once it fully cures. On top of all this, the finish doesn’t darken with time and it doesn’t rancid after a long period of time. Moreover, it provides natural grain patterns on your wood.

Compatibility of Tung Oil

The tung oil has a lot of uses. They are actually quite versatile in nature. From wood, bamboo to concrete, and even metal. They cover all sorts of surfaces.

That means you can use it on floors, concrete, decks, furniture and so much more. Hence, if you have any remaining tung oil after you’re done working on your project you can always keep them for later use.

Drying Time for Tung Oil

Well, the drying time for tung oil varies depending on the company. That’s because each individual company has a different formula for their oil.

However, you can expect that the pure tung oil needs a bit more time to dry up. That’s because they need time to penetrate deep into the wood and harden to fully cure. And that takes time.

Plus, you need to apply at least 5 coatings of pure oil. So, that will cost you a bit of time as well. On the other hand, dark tung oil takes a bit less time because of the added chemicals. However, it can still be days.

The fastest one on the list is an oil-varnish blend. They quickly dry up and take no time at all.

How Long Does Tung Oil Finish Last?

The tung oil finish is custom to last for ages. They are resistant to water and mold so there’s no chance of them decaying so fast.

Plus, they don’t evaporate so unless you touch the finish while it’s still wet it’ll be in good condition for years. However, we recommend that you apply tung oil every 6 months.

This way, your furniture or door will keep getting refurbished. That’s good for the wood surfaces.

How Do You Store Tung Oil?

Speaking of storing tung oil, there’s a special way to do so. Well, firstly you need to keep the container tightly sealed. This won’t allow the air to get in and contaminate the finish.

Then you have to keep the pure tung oil away from the sun and heat. You see, tung oil is highly flammable. So, if you expose it to too much heat the oil may catch fire.

However, pure tung oil does take a lot of time to dry. So, if you want, you can apply thinners. They reduce the time taken for the finish to dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can I Use Tung Oil On a Pedestal Traffic Area?

Answer: Yes, tung oil can be used in crowded places where people walk in and out all day long. Once the tung oil hardens it can withstand the forces left behind by people’s shoes. Plus, it’s easy to clean the footprints too.

Question: Will Tung Oil Protect My Wood Surface?

Answer: The tung oils are generally applied on woods and they form a layer of coating on top of the wood. This extra layer provides protection from the wood against scratches and splints. Plus it’s also waterproof.

Question: Is Tung Oil harmful?

Answer: The pure tung oils don’t have anything mixed with them so they are not toxic in nature. However, there are a few people out there who are naturally allergic to tung oil. And their reaction to tung oil can be pretty dangerous.

Question: What is Tung Oil made of?

Answer: There’s a tung tree that is mostly found in China and other parts of Asia. They produce nuts that have seeds in them. That’s used to produce tung oil.

In Short

Alright, folks, we know that we went on and on about tung oils. But we hope you’ll get the best tung oil for you. However, if you still need any help do leave a comment below.

We’ll love to help you fellas out. Anyway, toodles for now. Take care!

Kevin Smith

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