Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a question regarding finishes. I have done a fair amount of finish work on furniture and other wooden devices (my father repaired/refinished furniture as a hobby and later as a home business and I was often enlisted to help). I have always liked the look of a Tung Oil finish. I havent seen much in print or online regarding this for guitars. The nearest I can get is the use of Tru-oil, which is pretty close. I have done several gun stocks and like the way it turns out. Has anyone here used Tung Oil before? If so how does it turn out? I am a hobby builder and have no designs on making a living at it (I like my 9-5 job too much!) so time isnt of a great concern in turning out a finish. Perhaps there is an acoustical reason that it is not chosen? I know among furniture folks the type of finish invokes many emotional responses and I expect no less here. Thanks!

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Gravity, its not just a good idea.....its the LAW! (the poster formerly known as Sparticus)

One of my students prefers Waterlox tung oil as an acoustic guitar finish .. I have used it only on necks. Minwax wipe on poly satin is also not bad for necks.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Many finishes use the name Tung Oil in them--Like "Tung Oil Finish". Many of these actually do not have a drop of tung oil. The manufacturers are exploiting the positive associations consumers have with the word 'tung.' Almost all are oil-resin type varnishes. Most do not harden enough for a guitar finish. Pure tung oil is an awful guitar finish (and not a vry good furniture finish either); it takes forever to harden, and then is not very hard at all. Polymerized tung oil is available and would be very much like Tru oil, which is polymerized linseed.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

"Polymerized tung oil is available and would be very much like Tru oil"

Good point Howard, I thought about it after I submitted and I should have been more clear. Polymerized Tung Oil was what I was refering to. I doubt anyone has time for a true Tung Oil finish to cure.

Thanks for the responses so far!

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Gravity, its not just a good idea.....its the LAW! (the poster formerly known as Sparticus)