Alright folks. After many years of claiming to be a "woodworker", I thought it was about time to buy some Tung oil. After a few decades of using stain, I thought it was about time to expand my long overdue horizons.
Today I've made a small discovery.
I'd like to show you a picture. After you look at the picture, I ask that you close your eyes and think to yourself long and hard about what you've seen. Be honest to yourself. If needed, open your eyes and look at the picture again. Specifically look at the six panels at the bottom of the image.
Gaze for a while if needed.
Ready?
Here's the picture:
Now, what do you think?
Honestly.
The "table" these items are sitting on is your standard yellow pine. Nothing special. In fact, it's 1/4" plywood. Not even sanded. This isn't part of the "test" I placed it here as a reference point.
The test specimen is 4' wide and about 12" tall.
All of the test pieces have been made from the same running piece of material. You can see the black Sharpie lines vertically.
- On the far left is the untreated wood.
- Next (from left to right) is two coats of Polyurethane ("Poly").
- Third is two coats of Tung oil
- Forth is stain and Poly.
- Fifth is stain and Tung oil.
- Finally is stain only.
If you enlarge the image (hold the Ctrl button and press the "+" a few times) you can see where I've identified the test panels.
One thing to note, despite what it looks like by the brand I'm using, I do not work for Minwax. Nor do I have any affiliation with it or it's parent company. This is what happens to be on the shelves at the stores I've been to. Nothing more.
My point to this is that other than a difference in sheen (not noticeable in the photos) I can not tell a difference between the sample panels. Of course the one on the far left is exempt from that comment since it's obviously untreated and different. Rubbing the wood yields similar results. I can not tell a difference between the panels treated in Tung or Poly. The far right panel (stain only) has a distinct "dry" feeling as does the far left panel (untouched).
The cabinet door at the top of the picture is a red oak door that came from my kitchen remodel. I placed it here as a bit of a reference point.
So....Am I missing something?
I thought Tung oil was the cat's meow and it was going to be a "wood epiphany"?
Anxious to hear from the wood experts.
Bob