Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys - I have just started a couple of builds and I'm completely finishing them using Behlens Tung Oil. Do any of you have any experience with this stuff? The only concern I have is whether or not I should be adding anything to it or just continue to apply it right from the tin. It says "No dryers or thinners" on the can, but that's it. I do notice that some oil seems to pop up out of the pores here and there after I have wiped it dry.
I have read that "Due to Behlen's Pure Tung Oils' concentration, a ratio of 4 parts Mineral Spirits to one part Tung Oil is suggested"

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Barron Wesley Guitars

Also, can I apply polymerized Tung Oil over the Behlens that I am using?

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Barron Wesley Guitars

Rusty if it is pure uncut tung oil, it will take about 4 weeks to dry, and that is for 1 coat. I bought a gallon of pure tung oil to use as a part of a finish I developed for my gunstocks and thought I would try it straight!

Easy to apply, looks good, but not for a production finish. The good thing is, you can eat it if you want because it is a food safe product, again, assuming it is pure uncut tung.

If you have the time to wait on the finish to fully cure, you will be amazed at the finish. Close your eyes, rub the guitar and think of a baby's rear!

Mike

From what I have read it is not pure Tung, but very concentrated. One thing the can says is that I should wait 24 hours between coats, and that is straight out of the can and not mixed with mineral spirits.

I'm assuming I can put the polymerized Tung over this. I can't think of why not.

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Barron Wesley Guitars

Rusty if the wait period is only 24 hrs it is a blend of something and tung oil. Yes you can use the poly right over the tung finish. Even better, mix 2 parts poly one part tung finish and use that.

When I mixed my gunstock oil I used a mix of spar urethane, poly (exterior), pure tung oil and some mineral spirits to aid absorbtion. I bet it would make a killer guitar oil as well. I'll give it a try shortly.

I am wanting to do a mesquite top/back with oil finish and this will give me the chance.

Mike

Rusty,

I forgot to tell how beautiful those two bodies are. I also have a question. What is the hole in the top just above the jack?

Mike

+1 on the beautiful bodies!

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

I was asking about polymerized Tung oil, as in Tung Oil that has been pre-heated to start the cross link who da wadda process. But I don't think I am going to try the polymerized stuff anymore.
Let me know how your mixture experiment goes.
As far as the hole above the jack, I think you are referring to the 3 holes on top for the controls.. Is this correct?

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Barron Wesley Guitars