Expert: Greg Scholl - 6/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: We have been finishing an unfinished maple chest of drawers with tung oil.  We put the last coat on 24 hours ago and keep wiping it dry but it is still seeping oil.  What did we do wrong and howdo we fix it?  I don't want to riun my clothes when I start using the piece and I don't want it to be slightly slimy forever!

Thanks so much for your help.

ANSWER: What finish are you using?...is this Pure Tung oil? Or a Brand name product? Is the piece veneered or solid?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: An update: the piece seems to be seeping a lot less, although it is still damp and is wet in the corners in the insides of the drawers. I'm sorry to bother you, and appreciate your expertise very much.  I'm still worried about ruining my clothes by using a chest that has residual oil on it.  Is there anything we can  do to ensure that the insides of the drawers cure more thoroughly and that the excesss oils are dried up?  The piece looks lovely, but the corners and some spots elsewhere are still seeping small amounts of oil and I'm worried.  I'm not a wealthy person and paid a good amount of money for a well-made, solid maple chest, and am afraid I ruined it!!!!
sorry again to bother you.  

Answer
Pure Tung oil needs to be thinned with some solvent or it won't dry properly....hopefully you did that? You can't just use it straight. It would have been a much better idea to use a Tung oil product like WaterLox or Watco, as these are ready made Oil/Varnish finishes with the appropriate solvents, resins, and driers, and much more predictable. This  could take weeks to dry if it does......I would wipe the whole piece down with mineral spirits,drying it with clean rags as you go, and remove as much of the oil as possible. The other issue is the fact that Maple can be very hard, and it won't absorb the oil thoroughly,so it's imperative to apply in thin coats, let it penetrate a few minutes,  and then thoroughly wipe off the excess, allowing each coat to dry fully before the next. On a hard wood such as this, Tung oil by itself is not the best choice for a finish.Hope that helps a little- post back if need be, and remember to dispose of any rags used with any oxidizing oils carefully as there's a risk of spontaneous combustion. - Greg