Thread: Linseed Oil/Tung Oil

your first link seems broken DF

your second is in Thai; this is an English language forum

[quote=DrAndy;1135397]your first link seems broken DF

your second is in Thai; this is an English language forum[/quot


Just click on ENGLISH

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by Smithson

Word on some Thai sites is that linseed and tung oils don't do that wel in Thailand's soupy humidity and can go moldy.

I'd be interested to hear more about this, was interested in using the stuff to seal timber.

Teak oil works better and is easily available

Teak oil is a mix of linseed and tung oil with thinners.

I'm looking for a natural finish and have heard good things about Tung oil, apparently very little processing is required and citrus thinners can be used.

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

Dr Andy was obviously being his usual twat in posting that especially since Thai is commonly used on this forum he must be confused with TV again in his demented state of mind...He's been a real stalker lately too..

Insults are not really needed in this area of the board

I merely reported what I found

another member was more helpful

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

I don't know who played with the links either but that's not the links I put up as the ones I put up had only 1 product of specific reference on each and one was in English.. Someone never fails to take a pot shot though even when trying to help out, it's such a neighborly place..

essentailly you are blaming someone else for your mistake, normal for you

Would be good to hear more info from someone who knows about Tung oil and it's availability in LOS, another poster mentioned ppl were having problems with mold/mildew when using it, this is surprising considering what I've read. Seems to be quite a bit better than linseed oil for sealing.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

your first link seems broken DF

your second is in Thai; this is an English language forum

Sorry about that, corrected it! Thank you!

I was actually addressing the DF person Thorzen

did you have a similar problem!?

Originally Posted by DrAndy

I was actually addressing the DF person Thorzen

did you have a similar problem!?

Didn't know it till you told me. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Smithson

Would be good to hear more info from someone who knows about Tung oil and it's availability in LOS, another poster mentioned ppl were having problems with mold/mildew when using it, this is surprising considering what I've read. Seems to be quite a bit better than linseed oil for sealing.

Don't know about LOS, but we got some in Thailand if your are intersted, let me know. Didn't have the problem you said about the mold/mildew you mentioned. But you need to mix everything to the right %.

A pure or polymerized tung oil finish is easy to use and will produce beautiful results on any type of wood. Usually applied to unfinished wood, but can be used over oil base stain.
Existing finishes must be removed, as this is a penetrating oil. It needs to penetrate deeply into the wood fibers and pores.


Preparation


New wood needs to sanded smooth prior to application.
This finish will not build a film like varnish, so most of the sanding should be done before any tung oil finish is applied. If the wood is ruff start with medium grit sand paper and then finish with a fine grit, always sand in the direction of the grain.
After sanding, all repairs can be done. Any holes or cracks can be filled with a wood filler. If a wood stain is to be used choose a stainable filler.
For wood without any stain choose a colored wood filler that approximately matches the woods color. Do a final sanding if necessary and remove all dust with tack rags.


Staining

Any oil base wood stain can be applied. A tung oil finish has an amber color that will change or enhance the stain color. Choose traditional colors that will be subtle and still enhance the wood grain.
When in doubt apply the stain and finish to a scrap piece of similar wood before staining.


Applying Tung Oil

A tung oil finish can be applied pure or thinned up to 50% with mineral spirits or turpentine. Thinning the first coat will increase penetration, decrease the drying time and produce better results.
A typical application is by hand rubbing. Dip a soft cloth or rag into the finish and rub onto the wood. Keep applying until the wood is saturated. Use a natural bristle brush for hard to reach areas. Allow each coat to remain on the surface for 20-30 minutes. Wipe all areas to remove any excess. Check for drips or runs after another few minutes.
Drying is a slow process and will occur between 24-48 hours. This depends on the porosity of the wood and whether you thinned the finish. It will take 3-4 coats to achieve a waterproof surface. You can lightly sand or buff with extra fine steel wool between coats.
For exterior use, brushing will be the best method for application. The first application should be thinned to increase penetration. Pick up all drips and runs after 30 minutes. Apply 4-6 coats on new, very porous woods like cedar.


Maintenance

Maintenance is very easy. Light scratches can be gone with a light sanding and the addition of another coat of tung oil finish. Interior wood surfaces might need another coat every 2-4 years and exterior wood 1-2 years depending on exposure to sun light and wood species.

The Tung Oil is rather expensive because they only produce fruits and flowers once a year, with each plant taking 3 years to bear fruit, with full production when they reach the age of 5, depending on the number of trees for each rai, to give each tree room to grow for maximum sunlight.

The cultivation for young plants are less than 50% from the seeds so as the oil production is also less than 50% from the seeds. For production of the OIL, their nuts containing the oil has a hard husk which is harder than the Palm or Jatropha, therefore the production of the OIL is costly as the machine have to be specially designed or imported. The production of Tung Oil is a long and tedious one, with +4 kgs to 1 litre. You can imagine how much time and seeds is needed to obtain the quantity.

Understand that, but what is needed to know is how much you would be paying someone as a farmer, for their seeds.

I understand you may not know this as just starting out, but you need to know it so people can make a decision to grow it or not and if it is worth their while.

Also need to know how many kilos on average you can expect from well cared for trees per rai etc. Nobody will start to grow them and think it is ok to wait 5 years before they find out what their income will be.

Also can the trees be used for wood ?? If so, what kind of wood is it, sort, hard, are people using it for anything currently ? What life span does the tree have etc.

I am interested in this, but not as a farmer and its probable meagre returns, but for the whole package and having a friend highly involved in forestry in Oz.

check out our website: Tung Oil Tree (µé¹¹éÓÁѹµØ§) for more info please, we are offering 5-7baht ofr a kg of seed, shelled so that we can use the seeds right after we receive them.

Let me know if you need more info.

Originally Posted by Nawty

Understand that, but what is needed to know is how much you would be paying someone as a farmer, for their seeds.

I understand you may not know this as just starting out, but you need to know it so people can make a decision to grow it or not and if it is worth their while.

Also need to know how many kilos on average you can expect from well cared for trees per rai etc. Nobody will start to grow them and think it is ok to wait 5 years before they find out what their income will be.

Also can the trees be used for wood ?? If so, what kind of wood is it, sort, hard, are people using it for anything currently ? What life span does the tree have etc.

I am interested in this, but not as a farmer and its probable meagre returns, but for the whole package and having a friend highly involved in forestry in Oz.

We have devised a buy-back offer to those who will join us to grow, bearing in mind that there are 5 species of the "TUNG", therefore we have a contract (drawn out by a lawyer ready) in place for those who will be getting the plants from us, that they will be able to sell their seeds back to us, for 5-7 Baht/kg, shelled. We would prefer to only buy back the seed from those who have got the plants from us because we need to be sure of the quality of our product.


A brief guideline on the number of tree to grow per Rai have been suggested on our website: .....thorzen.co.th The tree will start to bear fruit in the 3rd year, but they will be fully grown by the age of 5 yeilding their full potential, possibly with around +20 kgs. If you have 100 trees per Rai, times 20 = 2,000kgs gross weight.

The great thing about caring for the Tung trees is how easy it is - it loves natural vitamins obtainable, i.e. cow, pig & chicken dun, which are cheap and easily obtainable anywhere. I keep a bucket and a shovel in the back of my car and make stops when I see piles of them on the road, especially in the mornings and evenings when the farmers lead their cows along the road between their homes and their destinations.

As each tree grows to the height of 15-20 meters, every part of the tree can be used, the whole tree can be used for structures for houses, planks, furniture, etc. Understand that the native in China used them to build their houses and furniture.

How many seeds to a Kg ?

Originally Posted by THORZEN

We would prefer to only buy back the seed from those who have got the plants from us

sounds like a potential problem

what is the cost of each tree? from yourselves

About 300 seeds/kg

Price of each plant, depending on their height - 50/80/100 baht. Considering that the success rate for cultivation and extractable of pure Oil is less than 50% from each seed. This is the reason why pure Tung Oil is not cheap.

Forgot to mention that the shell of the fruit is very fertile and can be used as fertilizer for all other plants, especially for growth of mushrooms. The husks can be used for as fuel for your barbecue or made into cakes for future use. Every part of this plant is useful.

Originally Posted by THORZEN

If you have 100 trees per Rai, times 20 = 2,000kgs gross weight.

Originally Posted by THORZEN

sell their seeds back to us, for 5-7 Baht/kg, shelled

hardly seems worth it

Well, We started this project as a cause, our objective is not only to make money. We wanted to give back what we have taken from the earth and hope to be able to help improve the Earth's condition, Enjoy ourselves and helping others along the way and eventually get some return in the later years to get us by. That's why have have our dogs on the farm, plant fruit trees, herbs, etc so that we can just walk into the garden and pick our next meal.

We believe that the project will eventually be worthwhile.

I looked through the site and there are some confusing statements re the kg's per ria and tree etc.

some mentioning 100/150kg, then 200+, then 400+ then 1000/1500kg etc. You need to clarify it much more precise.

I kind of agree that even at the top of the price range of 7b per kilo, it may be a hard sell to get people to plant it, wait 3 to 4 years before any real produce and then be happy with a few thousand baht per rai of income.....on top of this you have your establishment costs and the trees etc.

It may be a much better program for hilltribe areas and places where erosion is setting in and they cannot, or have abandoned the area for agriculture for whatever reason.....many many areas on hillsides all over loss like this.

But then you face the problem of subsistance famers doing it and they cannot offord the purchase price of even the cheapest trees at 50b.

You might want to consider a way of 'giving' them the trees by subsidy and a contract for you to buy their first 2 years of crop at a reduced price of maybe 4 or 5b, without doing the math, you could actually get a better price for the trees, maybe even double and the growers get them for free.

then of course, you face the problem of if you get something for free, does not matter so much if it dies kind of mentality.

Anyway, just my 10 cents worth.

We need Daffney in here for an opinion and his expertise on building a forest, then building a sawmill, then an oil refinery and bottling plant. All powered by his own solar design and self propelled hot steam generators.