Gunstock Oil vs Tung Oil

What is gunstock oil?

Gunstock oil is a dense, high-solids combination that absorbs quickly and gives your hardwood gunstock parts an excellent matte finish.

Features and characteristics 

This oil-based wood stain highlights the natural wood grain and resists lapping for consistent color in only one application. It works on any bare or stripped wood surface and is ideal for interior wood projects such as unfinished wood furniture, cabinets, doors, trim, molding, and flooring. Its unique formula penetrates deep into wood pores in as little as 5 minutes after application, and it dries in as little as two hours, allowing you to stain wood in as little as one day. 

Apply the stain with a clean material or a wood stain brush in the direction of the grain. Wait 5-15 minutes before wiping away any remaining stain. The darker/richer the hue becomes as you wait longer. To get a richer color, reapply coats. Wait 4-6 hours before adding a topcoat of wood sealer. Minwax is the most popular wood finishing and wood care brand in the United States. 

Pros

• Its unique blend of linseed and many other natural oils dries quickly, 
• It resists water and does not cloud, yellow, or crack with time. 
• It protects the wood from UV rays while also allowing it to withstand temperature variations without splitting.

To avoid stock damage, use a sealer for under-butt plates, recoil pads, and inletted actions. It is the most user-friendly and easiest to apply and manage. 

Cons

• It comes in a more compact package than its rivals.

What is tung oil?

Tung oil, also known as China wood oil, is a drying oil made from the tung tree’s nut seed. Tung oil solidifies into a translucent layer with a deep, almost wet appearance when exposed to air. It’s transparent, quick-drying, and enters the grain of the wood to enhance and protect it. 

Tung oil has become a popular choice among fine furniture makers in the United States. It derives from the seeds of the tung tree in Eastern Asia, and it’s one of the world’s oldest and most popular wood finishes. It is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and food-safe.

Features and characteristics of tung oil

Tung oil has a higher viscosity than other vegetable oils. The presence of eleostearic acid distinguishes it. Its unusual drying speed and exceptional water resistance are the characteristics that have made this oil so valuable for modern varnish making. 

It’s also resistant to alkali and chemicals—the tendency of raw tung oil to wrinkle when drying limits its application in paints. As a result, it is ideal to partially replace tung oil with other oils such as linseed, soybean, perilla, and dehydrated castor oil.

Tung oil dries quickly, solidifies the wood surface, and leaves a matte finish. Furthermore, unlike other finishes, it will not darken with age. It’s stain-resistant, penetrates well, is stretchy, and won’t craze.

Pros

1. A finish that polymerizes naturally.
2. Cures by oxidation, not evaporation.
3. No matter how many coats are applied, it does not produce a shiny finish.
4. Create a flexible, water-resistant finish.
5. Abrasion and acid resistance.
6. Isn’t prone to blistering and peeling (properly applied).
7. Unlike linseed oil, it does not mould.

Cons

1. Penetration is slow.
2. There is an unpleasant odour.
3. Processing time is lengthy.
4. It isn’t easy to keep track of.

Is tung oil good for gun stocks?

Refinishing hardwood rifle stocks with tung oil after removing the old finish is a classic process. Other oils, such as linseed oil, may also be acceptable, but tung oil creates a protective coating that only requires application once a year.

The High Lustre Polymerized Tung Oil formulation is suitable because it builds to provide a well-sealed and durable coating while keeping a hand-rubbed, gunstock finish. Because the gunstocks are rarely significantly exposed to the environment and never stay outside exposed to the weather, which allows a finish to deteriorate, the external formulation of our Polymerized Tung Oil is not required.

Gunstock oil vs tung oil

Gunstock Oil is a rich, high-solids blend that permeates well and polishes up to a good matte sheen on your hardwood gunstock parts. On the other hand, Tung Oil is a high-quality oil that has been blended with Pure Citrus Solvent to make it easier to penetrate wood surfaces.

The critical difference between the two is that gunstock oil can produce a more complex, varnish-like surface, while tung oil allows you to enjoy the wood’s natural feel. Furthermore, the way tung oil absorbs into the wood tends to leave a more natural-looking surface. And this is especially true on a guitar neck, where you can feel the wood grain in your hands as you swing it up and down. Other choices, including lacquer finishes, can give adequate protection, but you must maintain them with care as they age.

What is the ideal oil to use on a gunstock?

When deciding on an oil coat for wood furniture, tung oil is frequently compared to linseed oil or danish oil. Tung oil is the best oil to put on a gunstock. It comes from the seeds of the tung tree in Eastern Asia, and it’s one of the world’s oldest and most popular wood finishes. Tung oil has become a popular choice among fine furniture makers in the United States. It is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and food-safe.

Tung oil is a natural, non-toxic, and eco-friendly treatment for wood furniture that doesn’t yellow as conventional finishes like linseed oil, nitrocellulose lacquer, or finishes like polyurethane. On the other hand, Tung oil is costly and prone to water rings, stains, and scratches.

How many coats of tung oil does a gunstock have?

A minimum of four applications is recommended, with more coats required for porous or exterior surfaces. Lightly rub with Ultra Fine Steel Wool (Grade 0000) for maximum results between coats. Allow for a few days for the Pure Tung Oil to thoroughly dry before using.

Apply coats with damp or dry form until you fill the pores. Put on around five thick coats, allowing 24 hours between coats to dry, then sand firmly with 600 grit wet or dry paper wet with completion. If your wood has wide pores, it may take 12–15 coats to serve them, but if your gun is new, you can apply a couple of coats per day if your gunstock is in a low humidity environment.

What is a substitute for tung oil?

Because the cure – that is, convert from a liquid to a soft solid – boiling linseed oil and tung oil are standard pure oil finishes that are valuable on furniture and woodwork with good results. There are significant distinctions between these two oils, making the former a viable alternative to the latter and vice versa.

Tung oil yellows less than linseed oil. That is, as it ages, it becomes more orange. Boiled linseed oil heals faster than tung oil, curing overnight in a warm environment to remove excess oil, versus two or three days for tung oil. 

Raw linseed oil cures much more slowly – weeks at the very least – so it will stay sticky for a long time even if you wipe off the excess. Furthermore, boiling linseed oil used as a finish can be made attractive with only two or three applications, with the first layer sanded smooth. Tung oil requires five or more coatings, requiring sanding to eliminate the roughness.

Does tung oil seal wood?

It’s still popular today because the oil enters the wood and forms a relatively hard surface that repels water, making it waterproof. Tung oil offers a relatively hard surface finish that is immune to dust, alcohol, acetone (nail polish remover), and other acids such as fruit and vegetable acids as long as the surface Integrity is intact (orange juice).

How do you use Minwax tung oil finish?

Directions for use:

Sand the wood to make it soft and homogeneous. With a wet cloth saturated with mineral spirit, remove all dust.

If desired, apply Minwa Wood Finish Stain according to the label guidelines. Before using the finish, make sure the stain has thoroughly dried.

Apply a thick coat of Minwax Tung Oil by wiping or brushing it on. Apply in the grain’s direction.

Let settle for 5-10 minutes on the wood, then buff uniformly with a spotless, lint-free cloth.

Allow 24 hours before applying a second layer. It’s best to apply two coats.

After 24 hours, repeat for extra shine.

Apply a second Minwax Tung Oil Finish coat 24 hours after applying the first coat for added sheen. If buffing is impossible, recoat the surface and buff it again. Because the surface develops more shine with each coat of Minwax Tung Oil, you can manage the luminance of the finish.

Which is better, Tru oil or tung oil?

Tung oil is nothing more than a liquid. It will completely absorb and eventually disappear. It must be re-treated regularly to remain effective. Tru oil has a spar varnish, is more challenging than ting oil, and leaves a protective film on the outside. 

Tung oil is a naturally sourced substance that we offer wood a smooth – nearly matte – finish. On the other hand, Tru-oil is a mixture of natural oils (including Tung oil) and mineral paint thinners. Although this product is much lighter than Tung oil, it will leave a shiny finish.

When it comes to selecting which is superior, it all comes down to the type of appearance you want to achieve. Tru-oil is ideal if you desire a high-gloss finish. You can use tung oil to give that tonewood a satin finish.

As a result, you can choose the better of the two based on drying timeframes, application convenience, and other factors.