New (for me) Finish

[Tom Winship]

I have pretty well used 2 coats of tung oil as my go to finish, especially on mesquite. I tried some Danish Oil and it didn't shine like I wanted it to, so I put a coat of tung oil over the top of the DO. It really came out well. My thinking is that the DO, being thinner, soaks in and seals better and then the TO over the top brings out the gloss.

Any comments?

[Roger Chandler]

Danish oil is a penetrant, and tung oil is mostly a surface coating...[little penetration]......you might have a point Tom..........sounds like your rationale might be valid............I don't see why they would not be compatible, and as long as the danish oil drys completely before the application of the tung oil.........it should work.

[Tom Winship]

Roger, just got this off Wikipedia, not sure if it is accurate or not.......

"Danish oil is a hard drying oil (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/Drying_oil) which provides a tough, water-resistant finish. It can be used as a finish, or as a primer or sealer on bare wood before applying paint or varnish.
When used, Danish oil provides a satin (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/Satin) finish and provides coverage of approx 12.5 sq. m/l (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/Litre) (600 sq. ft./gallon) and is usually applied over a course of three coats by brush or cloth, leaving around 6-24 hours between coats, depending on the mixture being used and the wood being treated."

[Prashun Patel]

I believe yr issue is that you didn't apply enough coats of danish oil. It is thinner vs tung, so will take more coats. The shindig either will be more a function of yr buffing than the finish itself. Both contain a lot of oil, which impedes hardness and build ability. These things can help a finsh shine up. To get a softer oil finish to shine requires burnishing the actuAl wood.

Danish oil is an oil varnish spirits mix. As such it is not hard like a varnish or shellac or lacquer is hard.

[Jim Burr]

Is tung oil finish sold in gloss finish? My Formby's says Low Gloss, but my Minwax doesn't say anything about gloss/satin/low or high.

[Roger Chandler]

Roger, just got this off Wikipedia, not sure if it is accurate or not.......

"Danish oil is a hard drying oil (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/Drying_oil) which provides a tough, water-resistant finish. It can be used as a finish, or as a primer or sealer on bare wood before applying paint or varnish.
When used, Danish oil provides a satin (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/Satin) finish and provides coverage of approx 12.5 sq. m/l (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/Litre) (600 sq. ft./gallon) and is usually applied over a course of three coats by brush or cloth, leaving around 6-24 hours between coats, depending on the mixture being used and the wood being treated."

Tom, my mention was that DO does penetrate deeply.........probably because it soaks in .......now when dry it can be buffed to a shine..........by placing tung oil over a dry and previous application of DO, then one would have little penetration and when it dried it would be mostly a surface coating, and after it dried would leave a luster.

I have not used that combination, but was speculating on your "new finish" that you mentioned. I have used danish oil, and I have used tung oil...........but never together.............just in theory that they should be compatible .......as you have posted about with your application you mentioned............

I think we are saying the same thing, just going at it from a different angle, but I have no personal knowledge of the two together............just thought it is logical........ the result you were speaking of.

[robert baccus]

Forby's tung oil finish has no tung oil--surprise! tung oil can be brought to a gloss finish. buy pure tung oil and cut 3 to 1 with mineral spirits to get it to dry in a day or two. repeat with a steel wood rubdown between coats until you are satisfied. Let dry for several days and do a final rubdown with wax.

[Michelle Rich]

tom: Danish oil is what Beall buffs were designed to shine up. Allow the danish to dry thoroughly & buff..you will get a lovely shine & it will be very very soft to the touch