Teak Oil versus Tung Oil – Which Should I Use?
Long before wax came into play, oil has been the go to finishing product for wood.
The main reason why oil has been the most loved technique for finishing wood is that oil tends to bring out the core look and feel of wood, much better than wood varnish. The overall finished look is superior to most other finishing products.
They are manufactured using natural products and there are anything but difficult to apply. There are numerous kinds of wood oils of which the most prominent ones include Tung oil, mineral oil, Danish oil, teak oil, and linseed oil.
Here we’ll analyze teak oil versus Tung oil and ideally assist you in choosing which wood finish is ideal for your next woodwork.
TEAK OIL USES, BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES
Benefits of Teak Oil:
- It is perfect on thick woods
- Easy mode of application using brush or cloth
- Won’t break or split
- Indoor or outdoor uses
- offers UV protection from sunlight
Problems with Teak Oil
- May affect the original color
- Hard to glue wood after it’s laid on
- May not improve furniture’s durability
- Not great for all woods.
BENEFITS OF TEAK OIL
- It lays on a warm and brilliant sparkle on the wood. It can be finished by three techniques: spraying, brushing or wiping. It permeates deep into the pores of wood to give an incredible finish.
- The benefits of teak oil are that it offers protection from inside so that your woodwork doesn’t split, peel or chip. The appearance of teak oil after application is a warm, naturally hand-rubbed appearance.
- Another advantage of utilizing teak is that it is ideal for a lot of woods, for example, mahogany, rosewood as well as others, however for thick woods, it functions flawlessly.
- It can be utilized as a part of the outside and inside of wood broadening its scope of utilization. The other advantage of utilizing this oil is that it is UV-resistant which keeps it safe from sunlight. It is likewise easy and simple to use.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF TEAK OIL
- The impediments of teak oil are that it is prone to changing color which erodes the initial wood color particularly that of teak wood. With time, it usually transforms from brilliant honey color to a silver patina shade.
- Furthermore teak oil application makes it hard to glue the wood together because of the hard layer it leaves. It is likewise unknown the amount of teak oil needed to improve the life of a furniture.
BEST TEAK AND TUNG OILS
- Star Brite Teak Oil
- BriWax Teak Oil
TIPS FOR APPLYING TEAK OIL
The application of Teak oil is done with a brush or cotton fabric. The furniture must be dry and the surface clean before it is finished. See How To Apply teak Oil here.
TUNG OIL USES, BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES
Benefits of Tung Oil:
- Water resistant
- Non-poisonous and food-safe
- Flexible – ideal for expanding or contracting wood
- Easy to apply
Problems with Tung Oil
- Extended drying period
- Doesn’t store properly
- Unadulterated Tung oil doesn’t infiltrate wood properly.
BENEFITS OF TUNG OIL
- It is quite popular as being ideal for preserving wooden boats in old China over the centuries. There are two kinds of Tung oil, polymerized Tung oil and the modified Tung oil.
- The Tung oil finish permeates deeply into the wood creating an impervious layer which is resistant to water. It gives a polished and somewhat darkened look to the wood surface. It gives a hard surface finish on the surface of the wood making it resistant to water, liquor, dust and various acids.
- Tung oil is a non-poisonous wood finish and it ideal for furniture on which food is placed, for example, cutting sheets and vegetable bowls. The benefits of Tung oil includes its resistance to water and the fact that it is adaptable as it still protects the contracting and expansion of wood.
- It is anything but difficult to apply and it is quite mild during application. It can also be re-applied if the initial application is worn out. Above all, it is non-lethal and food-safe.
PROBLEMS WITH TUNG OIL
- The hindrances of Tung oil include the fact that it requires ample time to dry and that could bring about drawbacks if you are in haste.
- Unadulterated Tung oil makes wood defenseless as it possesses a poor infiltration strength and needs to be mixed with turpentine to enhance its imperviousness.
- Tung oil is doesn’t do well in storage due to the fact that temperature changes and level of light exposure can render it unusable leaving a sticky deposit and a film around the edge of the can which means that the oil is useless. So it is ideal to make use of it once you purchase it.
BEST TUNG OILS
Formby’s Low Gloss Tung Oil
TIPS FOR APPLYING TUNG OIL
You ought to utilize a cotton cloth to layer Tung oil on wood. Ensure that the harsh edges of the fabric don’t come in contact with the wood surface. Apply a little measure of oil on the material, not on the wood surface. Apply by coating along the wood grain and don’t excessively soak with oil. See How to Apply Tung Oil step by step guide here.
COMPARING TUNG WITH TEAK OIL
When embarking on DIY ventures, you need to weigh the areas where oil is better than the other. In the event that you aren’t in a rush, using Tung oil is better since it requires ample time to dry.
Teak oil is recommended over Tung oil, when you are working on a furniture piece that will spend more time outside such as a chair, teak oil is UV-resistant which effectively shields the wood from natural elements.
In the event that you favor appearance and style, picking Tung oil over teak oil will give your furniture a shiny and warmer appearance. Also, if your DIY includes an assortment of woods, make use of teak oil as it adequately finishes a vast number of wood types. Pick which oil is best for you after examining its qualities and shortcomings over the other.
I hope this helps a lot in making your choice!
