I have tried...

Several different ways..I learned that the quickest way is to apply light coats and do them while the last one is still slightly tacky..usually 5 or 6 coats..use a lintless cloth of some type..then let dry for at least 2 days.. lightly scuff with steel wool or a 3M scuffer..then blow clean with compressed air or a tack cloth and then apply a nice final coat or two...I use the spray on the final coat. :bthumb:

 

Pretty much that. There are many ways to work with oil finishes, but that one will work fine.

 

My method is...

Light coat, sand, repeat (until all pours are filled - takes about 4-5 coats). Sand lightly, but right back down to mostly wood until finish is flat - it's very cool how it works. The light coats dry very fast - I can usually do a couple a day. I rub the TruOil in by hand (no runs) and clean my hands with mineral spirits.

Then one or two very rubbed in coats (again by hand) until I have the gloss I want.

 

Like others, I sand between coats. I apply tru-oil very lightly with just my fingers. I have put on as many as 40 coats. It really depends on the stock. It will tell you when it is done if you look closely enough. There are those you do not like it. I prefer working with it over tung oil.

Pete

 

Would you recommend a product for protecting a tung oil finish?

 

http://www.dougsstockpile.com/misc.html

works with any finish. I have been using the "Toms 1/3 mix for a while."

In fact, I have rubbed in coats of tung or linseed and then applied the 1/3 before while tacky. If sun-cured, it will dry to a nice finish, fill the pores and give a good base for the next coat.

 

I usually wet sand with 400 w/d and a 50/50 mix with paint thinner/tru-oil on the first 3-4 coats and I use #0000 steel wool in between about the first 6 coats. Then I hand rub all of the coats from that point on, still using a 50/50 mix and using a paper towel to buff between coats out to about 12-15 coats. I let each coat dry about 24 hours and the final coat about a week. Haven't tried the stock wax or the sheen and coditioner on any of my projects yet.

 

hehe, i used to live by tru oil,......... then i discovered formbeys tung oil in low and high gloss........ it changed my live and took my work to a whole new level.
its very thin but the end result is astounding, worth a try as seeing how its 5 buck for a tiny bottle of tru oil and 7 bucks for a quart of tung oil:bthumb:

 

I sand while I'm applying the finish. I use 400 grit wet/dry paper. Pour a little finish on the stock and start sanding it in. The pours get filled quicker this way. After each application of oil I wipe the stock off with a lint free cloth and I wipe across the grain. I've done about 4 stocks all together and this is my favorite method. YMMV

swampf0x

 

THank you.

 

I also agree with rubbing light coats with my bare fingers. The same two fingers you would use if spit shining a pair of boots,without the cloth. I have had good results that way.