Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

Re: Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

Think we all agree that most tung and lemon oils ain't pure !!!!!!
However REAL lemon oil is great and i much prefer a properly applied 5 - 10 coat finish of REAL pure tung to a wiping varnish any day. Complete bugger to do, but a good durable finish if cured correctly.( Japanese woodcraft has not been wrong these past few hundred years). Only a real tung finish gains that beautiful patina whilst allowing the wood to breath!
 
Re: Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

I have actually decided on using nothing but laquer on my Tele to keep the used look. I have decided to use Olde Enginsh Antique Funriture Polish on my OLP. I took the finish off the OLP and exposed the bare basswood.
 
Re: Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

Talk about un-adventurous :laugh:

That olp basswood is way too soft for only a tung finish anyway - it would ding up pretty quick.
Good luck with yer ventures.
 
Re: Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

BigDaddy said:
Neither commercially sold tung oil or lemon oil are what they say they are.

Tung oil is really wiping varnish and a very good finish if built up over time. You can keep adding a coat anytime you want to.

Lemon oil is a wood conditioner and the stuff they sell just smells like lemon.

Real tung oil is not that good for a finish and doesn't get that patina varnish does.
Click to expand...

I'm a furniture maker and designer...that's what I do for a living. Been doing it for 25 years. We use Tung Oil to do a handrubbed oil finish on our solid cherry and solid walnut Bedroom sets and Dining furniture.

We dilute it a little with mineral spirits and then do a nice heavy coat on the bare wood. When it's dry, we spray a light layer of lacquer sealer on it. When that dries we use a Scotchbrite pad to rub most of the sealer off. We then re-oil with a very diluted Tung Oil and then rub that out for a beautiful handrubbed oil finish that's both sealed somewhat but which will also absorb more oil in the future when we polish. Lew
 
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Re: Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

Lew,

Since you are the expert, I'm just stained a body with an oil based stain, then lightly sanded it. I've put on about 3 coats of undiluted Tung oil (Hope's brand FWIW) on the body and maple/maple neck, although I'm not sure much penetrates after the first coat when it is undiluted. Should I dilute some Tung oil and put on some coats with it diluted or should it be protected enough now? I don't mind it showing wear, I just want some finish on it for basic protection but still have the bare wood feel.

Thanks,
Roger
 
Re: Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

devastone said:
Lew,

Since you are the expert, I'm just stained a body with an oil based stain, then lightly sanded it. I've put on about 3 coats of undiluted Tung oil (Hope's brand FWIW) on the body and maple/maple neck, although I'm not sure much penetrates after the first coat when it is undiluted. Should I dilute some Tung oil and put on some coats with it diluted or should it be protected enough now? I don't mind it showing wear, I just want some finish on it for basic protection but still have the bare wood feel.

Thanks,
Roger
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have plenty of Tung Oil in the wood already. We always thin it with mineral spirits and don't tend to use it full strength right out of the can. If it's good and dry, you might want to just rub it out with a little Lemon Oil or very diluted Tung Oil. If the surface is fuzzy or the grain has raised, a Scothbrite pad or 400 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper and oil can smooth it out. But eventually you'll want to switch to a nice cotten cloth and some elbow grease to polish it up to a soft glow. At least that's how I'd do it... Lew
 
Re: Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

Thanks Lew! Some old denim is usually good for polishing in my experience, I actually picked that up from a friend who used tung oil alot. I just wasn't sure if I was building enough finish on it using it undiluted.
 
Re: Tung Oil vs. Lemon Oil

big_black said:
Lemon oil offers little to no protection compared to tung. It has to be reapplied throughout the year.
Click to expand...

But think of the fun you'll have doing stuff to your guitar. What fun are guitars that you can't maintain and spend time with other than playing?
 
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