There are so many different kinds of oil used to finish wood that it can be hard to decide which one is right for your next project. Three of the most common oils are teak oil, tung oil, and linseed oil, but you get to decide which is the best option for your needs.
Teak oil is best when used on dense woods and it can be exposed to the outdoors. It may change the wood’s color a bit though. Tung oil is waterproof and non-toxic, but it takes a while to dry. Linseed oil brings out the colors of the wood and protects against humidity, but it scratches easily.
Each kind of oil offers different benefits and looks, but they also each have disadvantages that should be considered. We will cover the pros and cons of each type of oil and give examples of what the different oils should be used for.
The huge variety of finishes for furniture is one of the subjects we will be diving deeply into during our live online workshops at Cucamonga Woodworking and you can check out our past workshop YouTube videos Here(Link to Cucamonga Woodworking)
Teak Oil
Teak oil is a very popular oil for all kinds of projects but there are definitely areas it excels in and areas that does not.
Pros
This oil works especially well when using dense woods like mahogany, rosewood, and teak. The oil has properties that help it really soak into the grain of the wood to give it a strong finish. Even the tightest grains are easily penetrated by teak oil. The downfall to this is that it has a tendency to change the original wood color because it really gets ingrained in its fibers.
Teak oil does not chip or crack. Some oils require repairing because of cracking from expanding wood or chipping from use, but teak oil will stay intact from the moment it is applied.
The unique advantage of UV protection is provided by teak oil. Neither of the other oils we will cover has this benefit. It protects the wood from being damaged by the sun and keeps it from getting crispy.
Cons
Though it is a great benefit to have an oil that fills in the grain of the wood, it can change the original wood color. Even after stripping the wood of the oil when needing to re-coat or try a different finish, it does not quite return to its original color. If this will affect your project, then be wary of using teak oil.
Because of the hard finish of teak oil that helps protect against the elements, gluing is not easy after the teak oil has been applied. There is just not enough of a grain for the glue to hold on to, so it does not stick very well.
Teak oil has a beautiful golden color when applied, but this can be deceiving because it tends to fade a couple of months after it was applied. The shine and saturation of the oil does not last very long, and if you want to preserve it you may find yourself needing to reapply often.
Uses
The most common use for teak oil is for outdoor furniture. UV protection is imperative for outdoor furniture. The hard finish protects the wood from the elements for a long time. It is difficult to crack as well, so if the wood expands due to humidity, the oil will not split or crack.
Teak oil is great for wood flooring
Teak oil can also be used for wood flooring and it will not chip if you slide furniture over it. It will really stick to whatever flooring it is applied to.
Tung Oil
Tung oil is very different from teak oil, but has its own benefits that make it better for different projects.
Pros
Tung oil is waterproof and is very resistant to many acids. This is a great benefit for a wood finish because water and other liquids can damage wood permanently. An oil that provides protection from water makes it a great asset to any woodworker’s collection.
Tung oil, as long as it is not mixed with other chemicals, is non-toxic and food safe. It is made from seed kernels from the tung tree, so it is plant-based when in its original form.
The original wood color is well preserved under the oil. While tung oil darkens the color and emphasizes the grain when applied, it does not permanently damage the wood underneath and if removed, the original wood will still look the same as the day you bought it.
Cons
Tung oil has a really long drying time. A drying time of two to three days is needed for pure tung oil to completely dry. In addition to a long drying time, it is recommended that 3-5 coats are applied for the perfect finish. This can be a huge bother when you’re trying to work quickly.
You should also use your tung oil quickly because it does not store well. If it sits on a shelf for a long time, it will develop a film over the top and clumps along the edges of the container. Once this happens, the oil must be thrown out as it will no longer properly cure.
Uses
Because of its non-toxic benefits, tung oil can be used to finish wood cutting boards, salad bowls, and wooden spoons. It will not affect the food that comes in contact with it, and will keep the wood from being damaged by water or wet foods.
Tung oil can also be used on furniture and flooring and might be a good option if you live in a humid climate. It will keep your furniture and your floors from warping from the moisture.
Linseed Oil
Linseed oil is better for a few specific things, but its beautiful finish makes it well worth using when you can.
Pros
Linseed oil is great for bringing out the depth of color in the wood and it highlights the natural grain of it. This helps give a beautiful finish to the wood that will showcase its natural appeal.
Linseed oil is very flexible
Some oils can be a pain to apply, but linseed oil is very easy. You only need a lint-free rag to do it. Keeping the corners of the rag away from the wood, pour some oil on the rag and rub it in the direction of the grain for the best results. Let dry and apply again.
Linseed oil is flexible and will not budge no matter the warping, expanding, or shifting of the wood. This helps when you’re dealing with less dense woods that tend to move around a lot.
Cons
Linseed oil takes a very long time to dry, even longer than tung oil. Pure linseed oil is the culprit as it can take 2-10 weeks to fully dry and harden. Boiled linseed oil (linseed oil with added drying agents), dries a bit faster, but it still takes at least three days.
Linseed oil is easily scratched, so it does not make it ideal for flooring as furniture moving around can damage it. It is easily fixed, but with the drying rate, it is not ideal to have to make touch-ups.
Uses
Linseed oil would be best used on furniture like dressers, nightstands, and entertainment centers. These kinds of furniture are used a bit less and would not have scratching problems.
At our Cucamonga Woodworking live online workshops we discuss bend and steaming wood at about the 5 minute mark of this video. You can also check out our other past workshops on Youtube Here(Link to Cucamonga Woodworking)