Tung Oil Vs Teak Oil Vs Danish Oil

July 7, 2021

This article will teach you the benefits of each type of Teak oil, Tung oil finish and Danish Oil. You will be taught how to apply each as you read on. But, please allow me to give you a heads up on the reasons why investing in wood oil is considered one of the best decisions you can arrive at.

Most of us have pieces of wood furniture at home. These little treasures need some treatment as they age. This is where wood oils come in. Have you heard of tung oil, teak oil, and danish oil? Wood oil application is the most celebrated wood finishing way. It comes with numerous advantages. One of which is an easy application, aside from being natural. In detail, wood oil is essential in maintaining wood furniture.

At this point, allow me to dig deeper into the singularities of danish, tung oil, and teak oil. Which of these oils is the best when it comes to wooden furniture?

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Teak Oils

As the name suggests, you might think that this oil originates from teak woods. Unfortunately, there is no truth to it. There is no trace of a teak tree in a bottle of teak oil. From my point of view, it is more important to discover what makes a bottle of teak oil? What is it made of? It depends on brands. Generally, a bottle of teak oil is a miscellany of mineral spirits, linseed oil, and varnish. Sometimes, teak oils contain a very small amount of tung oil. Naturally, tung oils and linseed are both plant-based materials. Petroleum naphtha or mineral spirit is a clear material that is derived from petroleum (as the name suggests). This material is added to the oil and works as a thinner. Most companies make use of teak oil in re-polishing teak wood furniture.

Ingredients of Teak Wood Oil

Teak wood oil is made of the following ingredients:

• Linseed oil
• Tung oil
• Varnish
• Mineral spirit
• Rosewood
• A combination of other popular ingredients like natural raisins, refined oils, and carefully-picked additives.

Benefits of Using Teak Oil for Furniture

Using teak oil comes in many advantages. When applied to wood furniture, it prevents drying and cracking of furniture. This kind of oil provides protection of wood furniture against the damaging heat of the sun. In fairness, teak oils can easily be applied, especially on furniture that is made of dense wood such as teak, snakewood, mahogany, cherry, and walnut. If you look forward to seeing a radiant-looking and warm glow on your furniture, teak oil is my personal choice.

When Not to Use Teak Oil?

Teak oil is not designed to be applied to all types of wood. It works on specific wood types.

You might face difficulties in gluing wood together, especially when you apply teak wood oil to it. Moreover, extended use of this oil on wood can affect the color of the furniture.

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Tung Oils

Fashionably noted as a simple wood oil or a China wood oil, tung oil is comprised of tung oil’s seed kernels. It comes from tung tree nuts, a naturally grown plant in China. 

Linseed or tung oils provide a protective finish to wood furniture. However, it must be handled appropriately and with caution. Tung oil gives the wood furniture surface a plastic shell-looking surface that you’d certainly love getting. It leaves a naturally shiny and golden glow on the wood’s surface. This type of wood oil is all-natural. So, there is nothing to worry about using this product on dining tables.

Benefits of Using Tung Oils

When compared to other wood oils that you can see in the market, tung oils are preferred for their ease of application. It is not mussy because it is water-repellent. Let me say it again. Tung oil is safe and non-toxic. Also, it expands or contracts accordant to the wood you are applying on. Its flexibility is tested and proven. Did I say safety? It is safe to use for food-keepers.

Downsides of Using Tung Oil

Tung oil takes a longer time to dry. It generates a mild odor. But, this smell is tolerable and disappears when mixed or coated with shellac or wax. This oil’s poor shelf life is one of the downsides of this type of wood oil. In particular, it does not sink in surfaces of wood furniture.

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Danish Oils

Danish oil is rather akin to teak oil as to its comprising mixture. Danish oils are made of mineral spirits, varnish, and linseed oil. Unlike tung oil, this kind of wood oil has a longer shelf life. Now, we have “Danish oil”. As you can see, no Danes were harmed to produce this product. At this point, you might be asking about its composition. What does Danish oil make of?

Here’s a thing. The oil is comprised of tung oil and/or linseed oil that is mixed with synthetic resins, mineral spirits, and varnish. These components are what make this oil durable and very user-friendly. I mean “easy to work with” regardless of the type of wood t apply on. Look very closely now. This wood oil product is known as “Danish Oil Finish”. As the name implies, it is not made of pure oil. Danish oil, in particular, is a wood protector against all forms of damages caused by heat and chemicals. It also shields the wood surface from scratches and stains.

Benefits of Danish Oil

This quick-drying wood oil is so easy to apply. Unlike tung oil, it does not affect the wood’s color when applied to its surface. This type of oil is resistant to water, chemical, and heat. But, it is compatible with paints and varnish.

Downsides of Using Danish Oil

• It is less durable as compared to other wood oils.
• It demands regular application for surface maintenance.
• Suitability for bare wood surfaces only.
• Not suited for surfaces used for cutting
• Ways to Apply Danish Oil: Proper Way to Do It!
• As compared to teak oil and tung oil, Danish oil is the most user-friendly.
• This type of oil is perfect to be brushed in the direction of its grains.
• Have it be applied or wiped over a bare wood surface using a small piece of cloth.
• Danish oil is so quick-drying. You can have it completely dried up in less than ten minutes.
• To achieve a brilliantly amazing luster, a second coat is recommended.

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Conclusion

You’ll notice that teak oils, tung oils, and Danish oils are three unique wood oils that are designed to help you with your unique needs. Each type of wood oil has its pile of benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a catch, though. If you look forward to creating an outdoor wood surface, have it taken care of by using teak oil. On the other hand, Danish oil ideal for bare wood surfaces. This oil type is perfect for easy application on the aforementioned wood surface. As a bonus, this is ideal for first-timers too. The third type of wood oil is tung oil. I tell you. This oil is safe for wooden surfaces, including the kitchen and dining tables.

In conclusion, Danish oil, tung oil, teak oil, and tung oil are oils that are utilized for such purposes.

Tips in Choosing the Best Oil in the Market

At this point, you might have an idea of what Danish Oil is. It sounds stunning, yes? However, does it work as it is?

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Comparing Teak Oil, Tung Oil & Danish Oil Products in the Market

Watco Danish Oils are popular and good. Unfortunately, it is never true oil. Instead, this product is a combination of varnish, mineral spirits, and oil. In detail, Watco Danish Oils require constant reapplication. Don’t expect that it will last long because it doesn’t. Its durability is unstable too. It might make the wood surface pretty after having it applied on a wood surface. It can bring out the natural beauty of the wood’s grain patterns. But, I’m sorry to say that it does not work as marvelously as natural color stain like that of a Waterlox Tung Oil Finish. Anything that brings out the wood’s cloudy beauty.

Now, what are your plans? I completely understand your desire to get rid of inexpensive “plastic-looking polyurethane. Well, it depends on your purpose of using the product? Do you keep an eye on sealing the wood and make it look fantastic? Do you care more about providing the wood furniture with protection from the moisture from the environment? If that’s the case, give Danish Oil a try.

I care less about what anybody else says about Danish oil. This type of oil does not offer help in water-proofing. Not at all. It might lend a hand in providing you with minimum water protection. Instead, it spurs mold growth on the surface. As expected, your piece of wood furniture will be ram-shackled when wet. Worse, discoloration, swelling, or de-lamination can happen when wet.

Time is an essential determining factor of how quickly these things can happen. “Water-proof” never existed. Believe me. There is no such thing as waterproof when we speak of wood oils. There is no faux oil combination or true 100% oil. This includes the most popular Waterlox Marine Sealers. It is not 100% waterproof. Yes, this indeed is one of the best wood oil products in the market. Yes, it is ideal for coating a wooden boat, but it won’t last forever.

Why not give Waterlox Original in Satin or Gloss a try? Watco Danish Oil is an ideal product, yes! Honestly, the product is okay. But, Waterlox is far better than Watco Danish oil. It beats down the other in many aspects. The many years I spent in fine woodworking taught me many life lessons. I’ve been making money from refinishing and furniture finishing for more than a decade now. It is my hobby. I use each product, including spraying lacquer.

What’s with the muddiness? Marketing garbage in wood oils has overcrowded the market with hoax promotions. There are lots of them. First thing first. What does “tung oil” mean? Is it authentic or 100% real?

Minwax Tung Oil finish, as one of the known brands for tung oil finish, is a varnish or oil faux mixture. It is made of varnish, linseed oil, and mineral spirits. Don’t you know that you can formulate your tung oil finish by combining the three equal components of these aforementioned ingredients? This is the easiest and the cheapest way.

Teak oil, on the other hand, is a mixture of varnish and oil that contains a tiny portion of natural tung oil that is added to a portion of linseed oil. Such a mixture of linseed oil and tung oil is now combined with varnish and mineral components.

Finally, “Danish Oil” is sometimes mixed with varnish, linseed oil, and mineral spirits. This is called a “faux” mixture. Such mixture does not contain “tung oil”.

Can you notice the pattern at this point? Faux finishes like than of Teak Oil, Tung Oil Finish, and Danish Oil are almost identical to the authentic ones. These things make you believe that what you are getting is exotic and rare. The only difference is marketing, no performance.

Here’s the real catch. There are these so-called “drying oils” that are made of authentic and pure tung oil. It is comprised of 100% boiled linseed oils too. It is different from 100% tung oils because the latter is more water-resistant but less amber as compared to the 100% boiled linseed oils. The two oils are not water-resistant, not at all. Rather, they can produce mold and mildew. I must say that mold is one of the nastiest stuff you don’t want to get.

So, you might be asking about its suitability for the project you are currently working on. Just like any other faux oil finishes out there, this type does not offer protection of furniture against water and abrasion. Moreover, it gives your wood furniture a natural look. Getting such a look for your furniture is stunning.

Unfortunately, none of these lasts long. You have to re-apply it with a new coat of finish to maintain its looks. This type of varnish or oil is ideal for wooden furniture that isn’t used regularly. However, I wouldn’t recommend it to be used in kitchens or bathrooms unless you are more than willing to maintain it more frequently.

When we say kitchen or bathroom finish, I recommend film finish- Waterlox Original Sealer is a good option.

Some say that it is nothing but a mere “thinned varnish“. This is not true. It contains tung oil, varnish, mineral spirits, and a phenolic organic compound. It offers a high level of resistance against abrasion and water. It can deeply penetrate the wood. This is the reason why this finish is long-lasting and water-resistant. A few layers of this finish are enough to clothe your wooden furniture as if it is new. Won’t you give it a go?

Since it contains phenolic resin, it is highly water-resistant. Without tung oil, the Waterlox’s extraordinary finish can never be achieved. The secret behind its promising finish is its amazing mixture of ingredients.

In addition, there are lots of stunning benefits that you can get from this finish. One, its results look like Tung, Danish, or Teak oil finishes. Get ready to achieve naturally and beautifully looking wooden furniture in a snap.

This product protects the wood against mold and water. Also, it clothes the furniture with a natural aesthetic. You don’t have to worry about plastic polyurethane on this product because it has none. This is my personal favorite. I can’t help but recommend it for your fine furniture. This is legit. Trust me. Can you imagine what more it can give your regular everyday furniture? Regardless of the type of wood product project that you look forward to work on, this product is a must-try. You’ll love to see functional and beautiful results, won’t you?

I must say, it is an incredible product as far as abrasion resistance and water resistance are concerned. I tried Behlens and Waterlox in my previous projects. I’ll be very honest. Either is fantastic. 

On the other hand, Behlen’s Rockhard varnish is another promising wood finish product in today’s market. “Lacquer” is known for keeping the beauty of interior woods. However, this is not a good option when we speak of easy application. It is made available in a semi-finish, satin, or gloss finish. Thus, it should be used in an environment that is appropriate for the project because you’ll expect to have a bunch of spraying when you are on a project. The fumes it gives off are explosive. So, have it handled with extra care.