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Tung oil vs Danish Oil?

Posted by Sean Murphy on January 8, 2020 at 6:25pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I've got some lovely wood I'm using for some CBG necks and I'm looking at what to use as a finish. I've been using Tung oil on my past builds and have really liked the deep, hard finish it creates - but DANG it takes a long time to dry and with multiple coats, that's at least a week of just finishing. It's been worth it - but we had some remodeling work done in the house recently and the contractor left a can of Danish oil. I'm trying it on my latest build and am curious to see how it turns out, but I'm wondering what folks think as far as one vs. the other?

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Replies

  • Taffy Evans January 19, 2020 at 12:11am

    Hi, here is a bunch of wood finishes, wax's and oils that I have also used, work really well.

    I have  used the Hard shellac, the shellac flakes, The ultrashine wax and shellawax cream

    http://ubeaut.com.au/ubhome.htm

    Taff

  • Sean Murphy January 17, 2020 at 8:17pm

    So having used the Danish Oil on my latest build (though I need to read the can and see, apparently, what it REALLY is...) I have to say that I like how it dries faster, but the finish isn't as nice as the Tung Oil.

    Also - is it usual that it has a kind of...fishy...smell?

  • Taffy Evans January 16, 2020 at 11:01pm

    Hi Stew, yes true oil gives a nice finish, I use it on electric guitar necks to give a smooth soft feel to the neck, after removing the lacquer if refinishing on a customers guitar. 

    I was going to mention that I feel it is too expensive to do a whole instrument, compared to my Danish wax, the last one I bought was $15.00 for 3 f/oz from a gun shop. I just checked again and find that it is now available from guitar luthiers suppliers at $30.00 for 3 f/oz. 

    Taff

  • Stew January 16, 2020 at 9:14pm
    Tru oil. It is a mix of tung and linseed oil. Apply with fingers 3 coats 3 hours apart. Scuff with 000 steel wool and run fridge magnet over it to remove any steel wool dust. Do another 3 coats and scuff again then do 1 light coat and leave over night.
    Get tru oil from gun shop as it is used for oiling gun sticks.
    I used it on 25 plus builds and love it.
    You can do more coats if you need to fill the grain.
    • Sean Murphy > Stew January 17, 2020 at 8:15pm

      I've been curious about the tru oil and will probably pick some up, give it a shot.

  • Taffy Evans January 16, 2020 at 8:12pm

    Hi Vern, as I explain in the first post on this thread.

    Taff

    • Vern Hallett > Taffy Evans January 16, 2020 at 8:20pm

      Nice but I'll stick with my method.

      Vern

  • Vern Hallett January 16, 2020 at 1:11pm

    I use tung oil most of the time. I've found I need fewer coats to get a nice shine if I polish between coats with a piece of brown paper grocery bag. Usually three coats will produce a nice shine with this method. Never tried Danish oil. 

    • Gus K > Vern Hallett January 18, 2020 at 1:27pm

      You got any of that gray wet/dry sandpaper?  Flip it over and use the paper side like you would the paper bag.  The poor man's micro-fine sandpaper.

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