Thread: Tung Oil Finish Thickening In Can

I have the same problem with a can that I bought about a year ago. It seems to have thickened up these last few weeks. Haven't thought about thinning it with anything but guess you could. Mine isnt too bad at the moment and is still usable. Maybe you could check the can to see what they suggest you clean up with and whatever is suggested will be a solvent to the oil and you could thin it with that.

I'm not familiar with Minwax (I stick to my favourite brand ) but it's most likely it's beginning to gel.

FWIW, how long it takes to gel seems to depend more on how often the lid is opened than how long it has been sitting there. I've had "often opened" tins go off when half full and a can I'd forgotten about was still usable - just barely - 6 months later with only an inch in the bottom.

Anyways, this is what I've found with my stuff:

If you're using it "correctly" - wiping on a thin coat every 24 hrs or so - then thinning it isn't a good idea unless you want to space the coats to about a week apart, to allow the thinners to evaporate from the previous coat. Better to either use it as it is, or throw it.

However, I keep my "on the turn" stuff for other uses. Such as stabilising punky woods in a vacuum pot. Then I've no qualms about thinning it down as the wood needs several months after coming out of the pot to fully cure anyway.

Turn it into Danish oil, add some mineral turps, linseed oil, (I also put some gum turpentine and teribine in mine) works a treat 2 coats and your done.

This is a tip from Len Smith on extending Rustin's DO:

* strain the stuff through a bit of stocking. Seems to work better with the usual occupant out of it.

* thin with White Spirit

This gives it a bit more life in the can but once it's formed jelly beans it doesn't help much.