• The best operating temperature for applying Dark Tung Oil is above 50°F ( 10°C ).
• Be sure the surface of your project is free of dust, debris, or grime.
• Check to see if the surface is porous. (Dark Tung Oil works by absorbing into the material and filling the open pores. Therefore, if your material is not porous, it will not accept Dark Tung Oil. To test if your surface is porous or not, place a small amount of water on the surface. If the water absorbs, it is porous. If it does not and beads on the surface, you may need to sand and/or strip the surface.)
• If you need to sand your surface, we recommend not going above 220 grit sandpaper. Too high of a sandpaper grit will “polish” the surface, hindering proper absorption of Pure Tung Oil.
• If stripping your surface is needed, we recommend using Soy Gel: Paint and Urethane Stripper.
• If you are looking for a lighter color finish, take a look at our Pure Tung Oil.
• If a color other than that provided by the tung oil is desired, we recommend using water or alcohol-based stains on the wood before the Dark Tung Oil is applied. Most oil-based stains should be avoided as they tend to seal the wood and prevent absorption of the Dark Tung Oil.
• DO NOT use a wood conditioner. This will seal the wood and prevent the tung oil from absorbing.
• Determine if you will need to thin the tung oil. Dark Tung Oil is a naturally thick liquid and usually requires thinning to help it absorb into the wood. You can thin Dark Tung Oil with a variety of thinners. If you are doing a project where you want to use natural, food contact safe products, try our Citrus Solvent. If you’re looking to be a bit more economical, try our Odorless Mineral Spirits. Do not use a mineral spirit or odorless mineral spirit marketed as “green”, “eco-friendly”, or similar verbiage. These do not mix with the tung oil and will create adverse effects on your finish. Typically these thinners have a milky appearance in the bottle rather than clear.
• NOTE: Most projects DO require this thinning. Only very old, dry wood or concrete tends to use unthinned Dark Tung Oil.
• Extremely dense woods such as teak, ipe, etc may require thinning up to a 2 to 1 ratio of solvent to Dark Tung Oil.
• Don’t want to deal with the hassle of thinning it yourself? Look no further than our Dark Half! With this pre-mixed Dark Tung Oil and Citrus Solvent blend, you can use it right from the bottle without any mixing!
• If you’re looking for a wood finish that doesn’t require any solvent, you may be interested in Hemp Oil

When applying thinned Dark Tung Oil, here’s a handy thing to remember: Apply, Absorb, Repeat or Remove

For the best results, you want to saturate the material with the tung oil to the point where a majority of the surface is no longer absorbing the oil. This will look like puddles on the surface even after waiting 40 minutes. Just like a sponge, the wood (or other porous surfaces) will only absorb so much oil before it can’t anymore. This saturation is achieved by doing multiple coats.

You can apply Dark Tung Oil with a brush, rag, roller, or even a pump sprayer depending on your project and needs. We recommend brushes and/or foam rollers for most projects.

1. Apply a generous first coat.
2. Let the tung oil absorb into the surface, waiting if needed, up to 40 minutes.
3. Apply another coat, let it absorb, and repeat the previous steps.
4. Continue this process until you reach the desired amount of coats or have fully saturated the wood. You can tell the wood is saturated when the oil puddles on the surface and no longer absorbs oil across a majority of the surface. To be sure, wait 40 minutes. If the oil is still puddling, then you will know the surface is saturated.
5. Taking a clean rag or cloth, remove any excess tung oil that is puddling or pooling on the surface.
6. Hang those oil-soaked rags outdoors to dry. DO NOT pile the rags or put them in a container.

For the best finish, we recommend letting this application rest and settle overnight. The following day, apply one or two more coats of Tung Oil to the surface of your project, following the same steps outlined above.

Dark Tung Oil does not contain any additives to speed the drying process, such as heavy metallic dryers. Because of this, it can take up to 30 days to completely/thoroughly cure by its natural polymerization process. Provided below are some guidelines to follow during the curing phase.

• Dark Tung Oil cures best in warm, well-ventilated places. The warmer and more ventilated the area, the faster it will cure.
• Placing objects on the surface will “suffocate” and prevent the tung oil from curing properly. If there is no airflow between the surface and the object, it should be removed until the curing is complete (30 days).
• During the first 15 days of curing, you can use the surface. However, you will want to avoid getting it dirty or allowing liquids to puddle on the surface during this period.
• As the Dark Tung Oil cures, its durability and resistance to liquids and dirt will also increase. The first 7-15 days is when the oil is at its freshest and weakest state. After that point, increased regular use of the surface can take place.
• As Dark Tung Oil cures, it slightly expands and may push fresh oil back to the surface. Check for oil that may be seeping to the surface and remove it, if found, with a rag.

• Do not apply or leave fresh tung oil on a surface in direct sunlight. This will flash cure it on the surface and will turn white.
• Do not sand between coats of tung oil. This is an application technique for tung oil varnishes, not 100% tung oil.
• Do not use tung oil over oil-based sealers, stains, and finishes.
• We recommend using a water-based stain to change the color of wood before tung oil is applied if a color other than that provided the tung oil is desired. For a darker, all-natural, tung oil finish check out our Dark Tung Oil and Dark Half products.
• Do not use a mineral spirit or odorless mineral spirit marketed as “green”, “eco-friendly”, or similar verbiage. These do not mix with the tung oil and will create adverse effects on your finish. Typically these thinners have a milky appearance in the bottle rather than clear.
• Remember by adding petroleum mineral spirits or other thinners, the oil may become toxic with these substances mixed into it, although the finish produced is not toxic because the thinners evaporate.
• The number of coats of oil to be applied will be determined by the intended use of the piece. One to two coats is enough for decorative work, paneling and molding. For surfaces that receive moderate to heavy use or handling need a minimum of three and on up to six coats for maximum protection.
• Applying tung oil until the surface becomes fully saturated will give the best results. This will be evident as the surface will not absorb more oil.
• Renewal and/or maintenance coats are thinly applied with lint-free cloths (old bed sheets work well) or old t-shirt material on an as need be basis. A two parts solvent to one part tung oil mixture is recommended for maintenance coats.
• Do not get hung up on the number of coats, let the wood tell you when it has reached its maximum saturation.
• Tung Oil will be in the wood up to the surface not on the wood like varnish or polyurethane topcoat. The end result is more like seasoning a cast iron pan. This product will give you a surface that will stand up to vigorous use and spills: water will bead on the surface.
• After the tung oil has completely cured (30 days) cleaning of the surface can be done using hot water and mild soap, such as dish soap. Avoid using harsh chemicals or acids for cleaning.

SDS Sheet