Tung oil vs Tru-oil

[snag]

Any property differences? Do you have a preference for putting a good finish on a bow? Thanks, David

[Ifrit617]

I prefer tru oil... I think that it gives a better finish and is easier to apply.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Tru Oil all the way man! Don't waste your time with anything else unless you just want a quickie then I use spray on semi gloss polyurethane. But if you want a beautiful lasting lustrous finish use Tru oil.

[dragonman]

Whats in  Tru oil, Cant buy this in the uk. is it similar to dainish oil? or better? I usually use danish oil, but always looking for something better

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Whats in  Tru oil, Cant buy this in the uk. is it similar to dainish oil? or better? I usually use danish oil, but always looking for something better

I buy mine online. Look up Birchwood Casey products, they are the ones who make it and they have a complete line of wood refinishing products and also blue/rust remover for firearm refinishing. They make the good stuff!

[Pat B]

Dragonman, Tru-Oil is a linseed oil gun stock finish with Japan dryers and other additives. It is more of a surface finish than tung oil is.

[sailordad]

Tru Oil all the way man! Don't waste your time with anything else unless you just want a quickie then I use spray on semi gloss polyurethane. But if you want a beautiful lasting lustrous finish use Tru oil.

tung oil, gives a nice furniture qaulity finish
the more you use the better the finish,plus the more you use the more resitant it becomes
plus its as easy as tru oil to apply
wipe on , let dry,hit lightly with xxxx steel wool
repeat as many times as desired
i like to use between 10-15 coats
my bows and knife handles look incredible,plus water just beads up and runs off

i have a bow thats been hunting with my several times now in the rain,never has soaked up water and never had to reapply since it was first put on  

[Lee Slikkers]

Dang Sailordad, now with that endorsement I am going to be forced to go out and pick some up and give it a try.  Any particular brand or mix?

[sailordad]

i like HOMER FORMBYS TUNG OIL

they make a regular (higher gloss) and a low gloss finish
i dont see a differance between the two at all
like i said they do give a "furniture like finish" so they will be glossy
but with enoug coats its a very very durable finish(just like on furniture)
if you rub the first coat or two in,like the motion used for applying wax to a car
it helps it penetrate the pores of the wood and then as more is applied it builds up a nice water resistant finish 

my father inlaw taught me this
hes retired now but was a custom carpenter for 50+ years
specialized in making cabinents and such and thats what he used on them
and suggested it to me when i started this backwards journey of mine 

[Cooper]

I prefer Tung Oil as well.
At first I make a priming with shellac, 3 - 4 coats, then the finish with tung oil, again 3 - 4 applications.
Between every layer I make a interim grinding with very fine sandpaper.

[Lee Slikkers]

Thanks for the tips guys, do find that burnishing (something I've started to do on my bows with a polished bit of antler wrapped in leather) affects how "open" the pores of the wood are and how receptive it is to Tung oil or Tru-oil?

[sailordad]

burnishing will makd it harder for the first couple of coats to soak in
but after that the dry time should be better as the finish is just building up on itself

i burnished a b/i elb
then applied tung oil
i do my finish work in a small room that has its own heater and dehumidifier in it
i keep it at about 72* and keep it dry in there
it tokk 4 days for that first coat to set up properly
but damn if it dont look like glass after about 12 coats
finish is so deep it looks like you could reach into it

[PEARL DRUMS]

Im a Tru Oil guy all the way, mostly because I wouldnt ask anything more of it. So why change?

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Im a Tru Oil guy all the way, mostly because I wouldnt ask anything more of it. So why change?

Same here, no scrubbing, rubbing, or polishing to get it down in the pores....ect.
Just wipe, let dry, buff with 0000 steel wool, and repeat for as many coats as you want, but then what the heck do I know?

[PEARL DRUMS]

On a side note: My gunsmith friend told me to try a Tru Oil slurry one time if I really want a nice finish. He told me to work a small area at a time with 220 grit paper while the oil is still wet. It creates a slurry and fills the pores fast and even. Let it dry, smooth it back down and add your regular amount of wipe on coats. I bet Tung oil would work the same, maybe?