Skip to content
Are you a Pro? Sign Up for FREE Exclusive Benefits with Rise PRO™ Pricing and Rewards
Are you a Pro? Sign Up for FREE Exclusive Benefits with Rise PRO™ Pricing and Rewards
Real Milk Paint Half & Half

Real Milk Paint Half & Half

9 Reviews
SKU HH-32
by Real Milk Paint Co
$40.99 - $81.99
$40.99
$40.99 - $81.99
$40.99
Availability:
in stock
Availability:
in stock

This is pre-mixed Pure Tung Oil and Citrus Solvent from the Real Milk Paint Co.

In some cases, the Pure Tung Oil is too thick to penetrate most surfaces. Thinning with a natural solvent helps the oil penetrate deeper into the material. The 1 to 1 or Half & Half ratio works great all-around for most surfaces like new raw wood, butcher block countertops, cutting boards, concrete, terra cotta clay pots, stone, and slate. This finish is also food contact safe! Generally, 3 to 5 coats are needed to seal and waterproof. This all-natural finish does take 7 to 10 days to develop a water resistance and a full 30 days for a complete cure. A quick way to see the color of your surface before oiling is to just wet with water. The way it looks wet but not glossy is the color you have when the oil is dry! Can be mixed with any other of our Tung Oil Products (i.e. Pure Tung Oil, Dark Tung Oil, Dark Half, Outdoor Defense Oil).

Order Processing and Shipping

Rise ships manufacturer direct. We work hard so you receive your product(s) as quickly as possible. Learn more about our order processing & shipping times here.

Coverage

Coverage
  • 32 oz. covers 100 sq. feet
  • Gallon covers 400 sq. feet

Example: 1 Gallon will do 1 coat on a 400 sq. foot surface.

Preparation

  • The best operating temperature for applying Half & Half 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. (Half & Half works by absorbing into the material and filling the open pores. Therefore, if your material is not porous, it will not accept Half & Half. 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 Half & Half.
  • If stripping your surface is needed, we recommend using Soy Gel: Paint and Urethane Stripper.
  • If you are looking for a darker color finish, take a look at our Dark Half.
  • We recommend using water or alcohol-based stains on the wood before the Half & Half is applied. Most oil-based stains should be avoided as they tend to seal the wood and prevent absorption of the Half & Half.
  • DO NOT use a wood conditioner. This will seal the wood and prevent the tung oil from absorbing.
  • NOTE: Only very old, dry wood or concrete tend to use unthinned Pure Tung Oil.
  • Extremely dense woods such as teak, ipe, etc may require thinning Half & Half with more solvent (up to 2 parts solvent to 1 part tung oil. Half & Half is already at a 1 to 1 ratio of solvent to tung oil) You can use Citrus Solvent as a natural, food contact safe thinner!
  • If you’re looking for a wood finish that doesn’t require any solvent, you may be interested in Hemp Oil

Application Instructions

When applying Half & Half, 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 Half & Half 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 Half & Half to the surface of your project, following the same steps outlined above.

Curing

Half & Half 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.

  • Half & Half 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 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 the Half & Half 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.

Project Specification Instructions

FOR BUTCHER BLOCK, WOOD COUNTERTOPS, AND ETC.
  • Avoid getting dirt, water, or other liquids on the surface of the butcher block for at least the first 7-10 days.
  • We recommend putting wax paper down near sinks when doing dishes and other activities that splash water about. This will prevent the water from pooling on the surface and can be easily removed after dishwashing.
  • Avoid putting cutting boards, appliances, dishes, and other objects that sit close to the recently refinished surface for extended periods of time. These objects prevent airflow and can hinder the tung oil from curing.
  • If you are mounting or under mounting a sink, we recommend waiting for 7-10 days before mounting the sink. We also recommend using either a Polyurethane-Acrylic Caulk or a 100% Acrylic Caulk. Silicone caulk tends to pull away from the oiled surface over time.
  • If you have an under-mount sink, we highly recommend saturating the end grain of the butcherblock in the sink area with 100% Pure Tung Oil. This will help seal the very porous ends of the wood and give it the best resistance to water.
FOR INDOOR FLOORS
  • Feel free to move about on your floors with either socks or rags underfoot after applying the Half & Half. Moving across the floor with rags or cloth material is actually recommended as it will help buff and prevent any oil that may seep to the surface.
  • You can move furniture back into the room after applying the Half & Half. However, keep area rugs and furniture that sits close to the floor off until the full 30 days are complete. We recommend placing plastic sliders between the floor and wooden legs of furniture. This will prevent the furniture leg from naturally pulling the oil out of the floor.
  • While the oil is at its freshest (usually the first 7-15 days) do not walk across the floor with dirty shoes. The dirt will be pressed into the fresh oil and will be hard to remove.
  • The floors can be temporarily covered with plastic, painters cloths, or cardboard for no more than a day.
  • Avoid having any liquids sit on the surface.
FOR OUTDOOR DECKS, SIDING, AND OTHER WOODEN SURFACES
  • Freezing temperatures can affect the curing of tung oil. You will want to delay your project until the temperatures will be above freezing for a minimum of two weeks during the curing of the tung oil.
  • Do not apply the Half & Half in the direct sunlight. The heat from the sun will flash polymerize the tung oil while it is on the surface.
  • Try to apply Half & Half when rain is not in the forecast for a week or two. None of us can control the weather and should it rain on your newly oiled deck don’t worry. As soon as possible, remove the water from the surface using a leaf blower or a broom. You just want to prevent the water from staying on the newly finished surface.

Maintenance

The beautiful thing about a Pure Tung Oil finish is that the maintenance of it is easy. We recommend cleaning the floor with mild soap and hot water. Avoid using harsh chemicals, acids, or strong solvents to clean the surface.

Maintenance coats are on an as-need basis. Outdoor projects may require more maintenance than indoor. Heavily used areas can be expected to require more maintenance than lightly used areas. Typically, surfaces that need maintenance have a very dry, or lackluster appearance compared to when the finish was originally applied.

When doing a maintenance coat you do not need to sand the surface again. Here is what we recommend;

  1. Make sure the surface is clean and free of dust or debris.
  2. Make a 2 to 1 ratio of solvent to Pure Tung Oil (2 parts solvent, 1 part tung oil). This thinned mixture can easily find any open pores and fill them.
  3. Thinly apply this mixture using a clean cloth. Simply wipe it onto the surface, no need to lather it on.
  4. Wipe up any excess that may be on the surface with a clean, lint-free rag or cloth.
  5. Allow this thin coat to cure for 24 hours.
  6. Hang oil-soaked rags outdoors to dry.
  7. Go back to enjoying the surface like normal!

Hints and Tips

  • 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 the “green” thinners now being sold. They contain water and will not mix with the oil.
  • 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.

Storage

Half & Half can last with ease for multiple years on the shelf. Here are some guidelines to help you store it properly so it can be used for your next project.

  • Make sure the lid on the Half & Half packaging is tightly screwed on. This will keep air exchange from happening in the container.
  • Store the bottle in a dry, moderate temperature environment. A place where it won’t freeze or become excessively hot. Freezing of the oil will make the natural fats separate from the oil. Excessive heat can cook the oil to the point where it cures in the bottle.

Safety Information

SDS Sheet

Carbon-neutral shipping with Shopify Planet
Carbon-neutral shipping on all orders
9545kg
shipping emissions removed
That's like...
24433
miles driven by an average gasoline-powered car
We fund innovations in...
Direct Air Capture
Bio Oil
Mineralization

Dive into more

Discover more about this product category, find related articles and more!

Interested in Deals and New Products?

Keep up-to-date on deals and new home building products that benefit your health, your wealth, and the planet delivered right to your inbox.

Skip to content