Can tung oil be applied over stain?

What is tung oil 

One of the most well-known oil finishes for wood furniture is tung oil. It’s a 100 percent natural, eco-friendly wood finishing product made by crushing tung tree seeds. It differs from other finishing oils in that it is an excellent protective finish that protects your woodworks from various environmental factors. It’s perfect for safeguarding bare and unpainted wood, preventing it from marking and staining over time. 

Tung Oil is an excellent choice for food surfaces, including kitchen worktops, culinary utensils, children’s furniture, toys, and even outdoor wood-like decking.

Although Pure Tung Oil is simple to apply with a foam brush or lint-free cloth, it takes longer to dry (24 hours) than other oils because it is a natural oil with no thinners or drying agents. And this is crucial to remember when oiling outside wood, such as decking. It cures to a natural, matt finish and can be used to highlight the inherent beauty of the grain on all types of wood, both hardwood, and softwood.

Tung oil is waterproof, which helps to keep water droplets and moisture out of furniture and other woodworks. It acts as a water-resistant covering on top of the wood, preventing water molecules and moisture from penetrating the surface.

How to apply tung oil 

Tung oil application is a breeze. It rapidly and effectively creates a finish that is easy to maintain and long-lasting. For best results, apply Tung oil with a paintbrush or cloth in the direction of the wood grain. And this will make it easier for the wood to absorb the oil.

For best results, apply a minimum of 6 applications of Tung oil. After spraying each coat of Tung oil, allow the wood to cure for at least 6 hours. Apply the next coat of stain and continue the drying procedure whenever you’re satisfied that the surface is smooth and dry.

Using 220 grit sandpaper, sand the entire hardwood surface with equal pressure until it is smooth.

• Using a moist cloth, wipe away the sawdust and dirt.
• Apply the first coat of Tung oil with a paintbrush in the direction of the wood grain, making sure not to miss any spots.
• Allow at least 6 hours for the wood to dry completely.
• Apply the second layer of Tung oil after scratching the surface slightly with 660 grit sandpaper after dipping it in Tung oil for improved absorbency once the wood has completely dried.
• Leave the wood to dry for several hours before applying another layer of Tung oil once it is scorched and absorbed.

To acquire the most significant effects and the best protection, repeat the preceding technique for six applications of Tung oil.

Can you apply tung oil over the stain? 

Yes, Tung oil you can use on stained wood surfaces. However, you must ensure that the stain is oil-based because only oil-based stains are compatible with Tung oil. Water-based stains don’t mix well with tung oil.

While stain gives the furniture a lovely appearance, Tung oil can is essential to provide additional protection from outside elements such as moisture, insect attacks, and more.

Can you use tung oil over water-based stain? 

It’s completely acceptable to use an oil finish over a water-based color. Before adding your tung oil, make sure your dye is completely dry. Once your dye work is finished and dry, wipe away any extra powder. On the other hand, Tung oil is less compatible with water-based stains and more suitable with oil-based stains.

Apply a tung oil topcoat over an oil-based wood stain 

Tung oil hardens rapidly and effectively, protecting wood and wood stains from scratches and water. Tung oil is thick and difficult to apply for beginners, whereas tung-oil finishes have thinner solvents introduced to make them easier to deal with.

Tung oil can be suitable as a sealant and a top coat before applying the wood stain. Before adding a tung oil finish, wait at least 12 hours after applying the oil-based wood stain. Clean with a gentle buffing cloth and buff. Buff the last coat with a soft steel-wool pad to achieve a high sheen.

1st Step

Place plastic sheeting underneath the wood object you’ll be working on to prepare the workspace. Wipe away any dust with a dusting cloth to clean the item.

2nd Step

Before applying the tung oil to the wood, put on your rubber gloves and a face mask.

3rd Step

Apply the tung oil in thin layers by wiping the applicator pad across the item uniformly from left to right.

4th Step

Permit 15 minutes for the oil to soak into the wood. Then, using a clean, lint-free staining cloth, wipe away any excess oil.

5th Step

After an hour, spread the second coat of tung oil. Allow 15 minutes for the oil to soak into the wood before wiping away any excess with a clean staining cloth. If your wood item will be left outside, repeat the process a third time.

6th Step

To give the wood a gloss, buff it with a light polishing cloth.

Tung oil over the stained butcher block 

• To guarantee that the oil penetrates the wood, mix half Pure Tung Oil with half Citrus Solvent.
• Sand, the butcher block surface, to make it look even. Clean everything with a damp cloth and let it dry thoroughly.
• Allow the 50/50 mixture to soak into the wood with a clean cloth (or sock). (The time needed varies depending on the type of wood.)
• After it has soaked into the wood, rub/buff the top with a soft cloth to soften it.
• Repeat until the oil no longer soaks into the wood — this ensures that the oil has absorbed into all dry regions.
• Continue until the entire countertop is evenly wet/glossy, indicating that the wood has absorbed all of the oil. With a clean cloth, wipe away all excess oil from the surface. You must ensure that any pooling or excessively oily/wet areas are removed.

You’ll want to wipe up any pooling on the counters for about a week. Then, you must buff the surface every day for about a week to achieve a good gloss. It takes up to a month to fully cure, and we found that it only takes about a week until you can use it regularly.

How long does it take for Minwax tung oil finish to dry 

Minwax Tung oil needs around 24 hours to cure before it can be re-coated completely. After about 5-10 minutes of application, buff any excess product off the surface with a clean, lint-free cloth.

Tung oil vs stain 

Tung oil is a finish, not a stain. Whether natural or not, stains are simply colorants requiring an appropriate finish. To give the wood a lustrous shimmer, apply tung oil over the stain.

You won’t be able to get your wood as black as if you stained it directly, but if you want a splash of color, this is a good option. Staining with Pure Tung Oil Oil-soluble aniline dye crystals can also be mixed with Pure Tung Oil. The oil will color as a result of this.