# Where on earth can I get Tung oil? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 11, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363 "2004-08-11T15:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/1 "2004-08-11T15:29:59Z")
I’ve looked in my locla hardware store, my local Sears, loes, and home depot. People either don’t know what tung (or mineral) oil is, or they don’t carry it. Where do you guys suggest I look? P.S: I’m looking to preserve wood and keep it from drying out and becoming brittle so I need the oil to penetrate, how does tung oil compare to mineral oil in that department, and are there any other safety issues involved (I know tung oil should be used in a well ventilated area). ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/2 "2004-08-11T15:34:49Z")
If your local hardware, sears, lowe’s, and HD stores don’t know about or carry mineral oil, you must be living in an alternate universe. Tung oil links: [http://doityourself.com/woodfinish/wftungoil.htm](http://doityourself.com/woodfinish/wftungoil.htm) [http://acmehardware.com/product\_detail.aspx?sku=6140248](http://acmehardware.com/product_detail.aspx?sku=6140248) Google and Froogle are your friends. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/3 "2004-08-11T15:35:57Z")
Hmmm, I’ve bought tung oil at both Home Depot and Lowe’s. Several brands to choose from, too. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/4 "2004-08-11T15:40:14Z")
The poeple working at HD and loews are terrible at helpinh you find anything. Do you remember the isle you found it in? I looked everywhere and no luck ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/5 "2004-08-11T15:43:31Z")
Look up hardwood in your yellowpages. Any decent woodworking store should carry Tung oil. [Here’s](http://www.navaching.com/shaku/oil.html) a nice link giving a comparison of the various drying oils. It’s geared toward Bamboo, but has a nice discussion of how the different oils stack up for general finishing purposes. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/6 "2004-08-11T15:49:38Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > The poeple working at HD and loews are terrible at helpinh you find anything. Do you remember the isle you found it in? > > I looked everywhere and no luck ☹ In the same aisle where they keep stain, mineral spirits, wood filler, wood bleach, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/7 "2004-08-11T16:02:17Z")
As other people said, almost every hardware store in the nation should carry it. One brand is Formsbys. Like most “tung” oils, it’s probably about 1% actual tung oil and 99% varnish. (You probably don’t want pure tung oil because it doesn’t cure as fast or as hard as a varnish.) Unless you are using this for a “food safe” application like a cutting board, any of the varnish/rubbing finishes (e.g. Formsbys, Watco, etc…) should do fine. Mineral oil will do for food safe applications, as well any oil that doesn’t go rancid quickly – walnut oil will work, for example. If you need a really water resistant finish (e.g. a table top), then you want to stay away from oil finishes and go to something like a polyurethane. ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/8 "2004-08-11T16:02:20Z")
Paint aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/9 "2004-08-11T16:07:52Z")
The treatment is actually for my martial arts tools. I ahve several wooden swords I’ve been neglecting. They need to be oiled regularly in order to prevent warping and splintering and to prevent them from drying out and cracking/breaking. Thanx a lot everyone, I’m gonna try HD again 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-on-earth-can-i-get-tung-oil/259363/10 "2004-08-11T17:06:03Z")
If you want pure Tung Oil without varnishes or thinners, I would suggest ordering it [here](http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Finishes_and_solvents/Behlen_Tung_Oil.html). About $14.00 a pint. It’s used quite frequently by luthiers and instrument techs, particularly to finish the back of guitar necks without using a synthetic or sealant. Wonderful stuff. I regularly strip finishes off the necks of new guitars and apply tung oil - it feels much smoother and protects the wood better. P