Tung oil or China wood oil is a drying oil obtained by pressing the seed from the nut of the tung tree ( Vernicia fordii ). Tung oil hardens upon exposure to air (through polymerization ), and the resulting coating is transparent and has a deep, almost wet look.
Where did Tung oil come from?
The tung oil tree originates in southern China and was cultivated there for tung oil, but the date of cultivation remains unknown. The earliest references for Chinese use of tung oil are in the writings of Confucius (551 – 479 BCE) around 500 to 479 BC.
How does tung oil work on wood?
Woodenware uses tung oil to waterproof them so that soups and liquids do not leak to the outside. The oil fills any pores and scratches in the wood grain, discouraging any liquid from seeping into the innermost part of the timber.
Does tung oil dry?
Drying oils like tung oil do not dry and stay as oil after long years of use. They undergo polymerization to create an irreversible bond to convert from oil to a cross-linked solid that stops the water molecules from penetrating the wood grain. Early Chinese shipbuilders used tung oil to waterproof the boats.