In recent years, those who appreciate the warm richness of beautiful wood have begun to realize what the ancient Chinese knew; turned into a finishing product, Tung Oil is the finest natural wood finish in existence and has yet to be duplicated synthetically!
Man’s ingenuity has created many synthetic finishes, including lacquer, shellac, and varnish which protect wood with a hard impervious layer. But these surface finishes prevent the development of patina, the lovely depth and tone that only natural aging can produce. Eventually they will break down and discolor, when that happens the entire surface must be removed by stripping and sanding before another coat is applied.
Penetrating finishes formulated with linseed, soy or paraffin oils actually go into the wood and enhance its natural beauty; but these oils often dry incompletely and fail to form a hard and durable surface. Furthermore, they develop a gummy build-up when additional coats are applied. Linseed oil, the most commonly used, darkens and changes color with time and finally disintegrates.
POLYMERIZED TUNG OIL
Sutherland Welles Ltd. ®Pure Polymerized Tung Oil is the perfect choice when creating the finest hand-rubbed finish. Our unique process of polymerization involves “cooking” raw tung oil, a non-edible vegetable oil, to its “maximum thermal threshold”. This sophisticated polymerization process develops both the ultimate hand-rubbed sheen and the curing capabilities of a quality finish without adding varnishes or urethanes. Polymerization is an expensive process that at its perfect point produces oil that has maximum durability and a gorgeous sheen. If the process isn’t well controlled the oil solidifies to the consistency of an erasure and the entire batch is lost.
The intricacy and therefore expense of the process is what leads most companies to formulate with modifiers. This adds to the toxicity of the finish and inhibits the penetration of the oil into the wood fibers as well as slowing the drying and curing time. They believe they can achieve the same results with a cheaper process and formulation. In time, the varnishes and urethanes discolor and deteriorate, degrading the finish.
Our polymerization process helps to lower the toxicity of our Tung oil finish as it improves the curing ability of the oil, reducing the need for additional chemical dryers. The driers that are used in the formulations have been researched and found to be of the lowest toxicity available. The Polymerized Tung Oil must also be formulated with solvents to thin the oil to maximize its workability and penetration. We use the purest solvents available, reducing the environmental impact and minimizing a finisher’s exposure to toxic fumes and chemicals. When the formulation is complete, the result is a Polymerized Tung Oil finish that is both finisher-friendly and environmentally responsible.
Polymerized Tung Oil finishes are hard yet flexible, waterproof and impervious to alcohol and many food acids. As a penetrating oil, it allows wood to continue its aging process and to develop its patina. The wood’s rich natural color is enhanced while the wood is nurtured with Polymerized Tung oil. A floor, a piece of furniture, or any other wood object finished and maintained with Polymerized Tung Oil will never have to be stripped again. Any sign of wear disappears when a thin “maintenance” coat of oil is rubbed in. The maintenance coats, rather than cause a build-up, actually improve the patina as they protect and preserve the wood. Ultimately, any project finished with our Polymerized Tung Oil becomes more beautiful with time.
LOC-LAMIN ® FINISHING SYSTEM
The Sutherland Welles Ltd ® polymerization process and formulations are the core of what we call the Loc-Lamin® Finishing System. This system is based on the application of several thin coats of our Polymerized Tung Oil each fusing to the previously applied coat. Microscopic examination of the initial sealer coats shows a three- dimensional molecular locking of the finish into the wood fibers. Subsequent layers chemically bond to these sealer coats creating a durable finish that bonds completely to the wood as if it were one solid coat. Please Note: Regardless of which Polymerized Tung Oil product is used, it is important that it be applied as multiple thin coats rather than as one thick one! Thin applications ensure that each layer “through” dries and cures completely; this is essential for the Loc-Lamin ® Wood Finishing System to perform.
The Loc-Lamin® System does not deteriorate over time. The molecular locking of the finish into the wood remains stable indefinitely eliminating the multiple layers from peeling apart. The bonding also gives flexibility to the surface, making it capable of withstanding wear and tear. The Loc-Lamin ® Finishing System and the application process are the secret to Tung Oil’s effectiveness as a finish.
The Loc-Lamin ® Wood Finishing System also contributes to the ease of maintaining a Polymerized Tung Oil finish. Abrasions are sure to occur on any piece of wood over its lifetime. Temperature and humidity changes cause expansion and contraction of the wood eventually causing small cracks in the finish. When a piece of wood is routinely treated with Sutherland Welles Ltd.® Polymerized Tung Oil Wood Care or periodically given a thin coat of Polymerized Tung Oil, the Polymerized Tung Oil molecules in the fresh coat bond with those in the existing finish, forming a new, smooth uninterrupted surface.
We at Sutherland Welles Ltd. ® are proud of our commitment to improve product performance while reducing its environmental impact both to the earth and to wood finishers using our products. We will continue to make changes in our formulations that achieve that goal!