questions about using Orange Oil

[Jim Hipp]

Anybody with any experience using orange oil as a finish on turnings?

If so, was it used pure or diluted with something and if so what?

Where did you purchase it?

Thanks

[Prashun Patel]

Orange oil is not a finish.

There may be some things marketed as orange oil finish - which implies there is some varnish in there.

But PURE orange oil will volatalize away and won't provide any protection. In fact, the main constituent of natural orange oil, d-Limonene is the same molecule used as a solvent in orange 'cleaners', and it functions very similarly to mineral spirits in terms of volatility. That is to say, it is more of a solvent than a finish. In fact, it is more aggressive than mineral spirits in most situations. So, ironically, it can eat and attack some finishes, not protect a turning.

Why are you thinking about orange oil?

[Jim Hipp]

I should have asked if anyone uses a finish with orange oil in it.

I saw a bowl that was finished with a some product that orange oil as a component and can't find the name of the turner or the name of the product.

Thought it might job someones memory.

[Chris A Lawrence]

It can be used as a sub for mineral spirits in a diy danish oil mix. I do 1:1:1 blo or tung oil, solvent, varnish or oil based poly. I normally use mineral spirits if orange oil was cheaper i would consider using that instead.

[CHARLES D Richards]

Jim,
you may be referring to Howard's Feed and Wax which some turners use and has an orange oil component. I am not a finish expert but Prashun is dead on with his info on orange oil.

[Daniel Warren]

I recently tried Real Milk Paint Co tung oil with citrus solvent 50/50 blend. Thus far the pieces are fine. They do smell very strong of citrus during application and curing. They claim the citrus solvent helps the tung oil penetrate the wood better.

[tom lucas]

I use orange glow to remove wax and wipe down wood surfaces in the shop. It's good for that and general cleaning (like mineral spirits). I wax all my machines when not in use and just leave the film on there. When I'm about to use the machine, I spritz a little orange glow to remove the wax film. Film just wipes right off and surface is slick and ready to go.

I don't think it's an effective wood finish component, other than the smell, which is only temporary anyway.

[roger wiegand]

I use it to dilute tung oil to make it easier to apply. It's volatile, so there's little to nothing left after it evaporates. It can be used as a substitute for paint thinner/mineral spirits in most applications.

[Prashun Patel]

We buy tons of orange oil for use in fragrances. I can tell you that I would never use orange oil as a solvent or substitute for mineral spirits. It's not a pure material; it's a distilled product that has about 3-5% other molecules besides Limonene (which is what makes it acceptable as a solvent). Those other ingredients can include water, less volatile molecules and even wax.

You just risk having a softer finish with it. It's fine with tung oil, which is not intended to build up to a film. But it's not really a substitute for MS for any kind of oil based film finish.

*If* anyone wishes to use a citrus-based solvent, it's best to seek out pure limonene or at least 'orange terpenes' which is more pure than orange oil, and coincidentally cheaper.