Is Minwax Tung Oil 'Pure' Tung Oil?

The Minwax stuff is sold as "Tung Oil Finish" and does not state it is pure Tung oil or that it even contains any Tung oil at all. It just says it is an oil finish. It is not like a food product which must state what the ingredients are.

In fact, any product called "Tung Oil Finish" is almost guaranteed to NOT contain any tung oil. :-).

But there are tung oil products out there. I know Woodcraft carries a couple and I'm sure others do as well.

If you want tung oil, you need to get "Pure Tung Oil". It is one of my favorite finishes, but it will darken maple. Too much for my taste. I am in the final stages of making a spalted maple box and am planning to use super blond shellac.

-- Doug

If you want to minimize any coloring on the maple, I'd recommend using a water clear finish, such as lacquer or Waterbased Poly, such as Minwax Polycrylic.

As far as the "Tung oil finish - Your guess is as good as any as to what's in it.

No. Ingredients Med. Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Solvent Methyl Ethyl Ketoxime Cobalt 2-Ethylhexanoate

linseed oil

nope. Go to a rockler, woodcraft or another local gem for the real stuff; prepare for a sticker shock, comparatively speaking.

On the other hand, I've done MANY successful projects with the low sheen Wa tco Tung Oil Finish. It's among my favorite finishes, when I'm looking f or that simple hand rubbed look, but want something just a little harder. Rocking horses, tabletops, butcher block counters without a lot of water c ontact, etc.