Drew's Formby's Suggestion

[J.B. Books]

Interestingly enough Formby's Tung Oil contains no Tung Oil.


"On the other hand, Formby’s, Zar, Gillespie, and Hope’s “Tung Oil Finish” are wiping varnish—nothing more than regular varnish to which mineral spirits has been added, thinning the varnish so that it can be wiped on. (You can make your own wiping varnish by thinning the varnish you already own 50/50 with mineral spirits.) As with the oil/varnish blends mentioned, none of these wiping varnishes contains so much as a drop of tung oil."

Formby’s Tung Oil Finish is an alkyd resin wiping varnish made with soya (soybean) oil. It contains absolutely no tung oil.

http://community.woodmagazine.com/t5...To-Do/ba-p/190

[Harold Pickens]

I have 2 damascus guns that I have plans to redo the barrels and I may try this just to see what happens. Neither of these guns look like Bruce's before pictures( far worse). THey are a Lefever G 16 and an GH16.

[Drew Hause]

Pete: I wipe everything (wood and metal) gently with a soft cloth and G97 Gun Treatment or Ballistol. Not much trouble with salt water here in the desert, but most everything is a tad...abrasive...lacerating...biting...sticking

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

Interestingly enough Formby's Tung Oil contains no Tung Oil.


"On the other hand, Formby’s, Zar, Gillespie, and Hope’s “Tung Oil Finish” are wiping varnish—nothing more than regular varnish to which mineral spirits has been added, thinning the varnish so that it can be wiped on. (You can make your own wiping varnish by thinning the varnish you already own 50/50 with mineral spirits.) As with the oil/varnish blends mentioned, none of these wiping varnishes contains so much as a drop of tung oil."

Formby’s Tung Oil Finish is an alkyd resin wiping varnish made with soya (soybean) oil. It contains absolutely no tung oil.

http://community.woodmagazine.com/t5...To-Do/ba-p/190

FYI, then before and after application:

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

FYI, then before and after application:

It was easy to apply. It did enhance the finish of three guns I applied it to. The weather tests will come this fall.

As far as no tung oil in Formby's Tung Oil, that is what you can find on several wood working sites if you look. I don't care, it works on the guns.

"What you quoted from the label confirms exactly what I said, that Formby's Tung Oil Finish contains no tung oil--only varnish made from tung oil and other oils (probably linseed oil.) Once there has been a chemical reaction between the tung oil and the resins it no longer is oil, nor does it behave like oil--it behaves like a varnish with about 69% mineral spirits content.

This is not to say it doesn't do a good job, but only that it isn't an oil finish. It's more like Waterlox (also varnish made from tung oil and resin) than like Watco (a mix of varnish with oil (linseed) and thinner) and not at all like pure tung oil.

My real objection is the deception involved in the marketing. Its really all just marketing designed to make consumers think there is something special or unique about products that are quite similar. There just aren't any "secret" formulas or ingredients as far as competitors are concerned, just attempts to mislead consumers. In the cynical marketing view "tung oil" is just an adjective modifying "Finish", and therefore it means whatever they want it to mean."

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...g-oil-question