If you need to make your wood shine and give it a natural luster, enhance its color, and protect it from various elements, then coating it with a layer of tung oil is recommended. With that being said, tung oil does need to dry and cure, which is exactly what we are here to discuss today.
We’re going to figure out how long tung oil takes to dry, how long it takes to cure, and how you can make it dry faster.
How Long Does Tung Oil Take to Dry?
If you apply a moderate amount of tung oil to a wooden surface, it is going to take anywhere between 24 and 72 hours to be dry to the touch. This means that if you want to apply multiple layers of oil, you will need to wait for two or three days at a time in between layers.
With that being said, depending on conditions, such as temperature and humidity, as well as the thickness of the layer that is applied, a single layer of tung oil may take up to seven days to fully dry. Although this oil is a great substance to use on wood due to its protective and aesthetic qualities, it is something that takes a very long time to completely dry and harden.
How Long Does Tung Oil Take to Cure?
What is interesting to note is that tung oil is not just your average oil that coats a wooden surface and helps to protect it. This substance is something that will react with the air, or in other words with oxygen, to harden.
Tung oil hardens and cures through a process known as polymerization, which is a chemical reaction, meaning this substance does have to cure, just like some adhesives.
In terms of the curing time, depending on various conditions, such as humidity levels and ambient temperature, tung oil may take anywhere between 15 and 45 days to fully cure. This means that in order for it to reach its full strength and hardness, and to protect your wooden objects as much as possible, it can take up to a month and a half.
How Can You Tell If Your Tung Oil Finish Is Dry/Cured?
Seeing as it can take anywhere from a couple of days to a full week for tung oil to dry, and up to a month and a half for it to cure, it’s a good idea for you to know exactly when it is finished and cured. There are a few telltale signs to help you recognize whether or not your finish is dried and cured.
First and foremost, you’ll be able to tell by its natural luster. When the tung oil is still drying, it can be somewhat dull, but as it dries and cures, it’s going to become extremely shiny and have a great natural luster to it.
Next, you can always do the touch test, or in other words, touch the tung oil to see if it is dry and hard. If it forms a completely hard surface that does not indent or scratch when you touch it, then it should be completely dried and cured.
Moreover, tung oil also has a fairly strong smell to it, which will more or less disappear once it is fully cured. Therefore, if you can’t smell much anymore, chances are that it is done.
3 Things Affecting Tung Oil Drying Time
Let’s take a quick look at the various factors that you need to take into account when it comes to how long it will take for your tung oil to dry.
1. Temperature
One of the leading factors in drying time is temperature. The cooler the temperature is, the longer the tung oil will take to dry. Generally speaking, the ideal drying temperature is somewhere around room temperature or between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Up to a certain point, the warmer the ambient temperature is, the faster the workpiece will dry.
2. Humidity
Another leading factor that will determine how long this substance takes to dry is the ambient humidity level. Simply put, the more humid the air surrounding the tung oil is, the slower that water will evaporate out of it, therefore making it dry slower. On the other hand, the lower the humidity level in the space is, the more of that water will evaporate out of the tung oil, speeding up the process.
3. Application Process
How well you apply the tung oil to a wooden surface is also going to determine how long it will take to dry. Simply put, if you apply a layer that is far too thick, it can take much longer to dry than if you apply just a very thin layer. Moreover, once this oil is applied, you are supposed to wipe excess oil away with a rag. If you forget to do this, it means that there is more oil present, which will also make it take longer to dry.
How to Make Tung Oil Dry Faster
Let’s quickly go over some tips on how you can make your tung oil dry faster.
1. Keep it Dry
The best way to make tung oil dry faster is to keep the air around it dry. If working outdoors, try to work on a dry and sunny day. If you are working indoors in an enclosed space, you can always try using a dehumidifier to suck moisture out of the air.
2. Provide Airflow
Something that is going to help keep your workpiece dry and keep humidity levels down is if you provide it with some airflow. In other words, if you are working outdoors, allow it to be exposed to the natural wind, and if working indoors, try pointing a fan at the surface to allow the tung oil to dry faster. A little bit of airflow will go a long way.
3. Maintain Optimal Temperatures
To make your tung oil dry faster, you should also work in warm conditions. If working outdoors, keeping the workpiece in the sunlight will help. If you are working indoors, make sure that the space is fairly warm. Therefore, if your garage is not heated, you might want to take the workpiece inside to provide the finish with some heat, making it dry faster.
4. Apply it Properly
The other way to make sure that tung oil dries fast is to apply it properly in the first place, which means not applying too much of it, and always wiping away excess oil with a rag.
Summary
Now that you know how long tung oil takes to dry, and how to make it dry faster, you can start using it with maximum efficacy.