I never liked the BLO/MS/poly mixture either. I experimented with it for several weeks on various pieces back in the early 90s. Humidors mostly.
As to pure tung oil, it is not all it's cracked up to be either. One of my favorite finishes is made by Sutherland Welles, and it is a polymerized tung oil. It has all the wonderful characteristics that have been mythically attributed to tung oil over the years, but none of the failings that pure tung oil has in reality.
Plus, no plasticy look, and e-a-s-y to repair.
All of their products that I have used, are superior to anything I have ever used. I especially love, as mentioned the polymerized tung oil and also the exterior spar varnish they make. Customer service and free advice is unsurpassed.
They are a hair slow updating their website - I mean, they still have Christmas wreaths up. :wsmile: But don't let that fool you. First time i ordered from them i was blown away. After the lady helped me choose the products I needed, she said "Your invoice will be in the box, just drop us a check when you get it". I thought I was the only one still doing business that way. :gar-Bi
Sutherland Welles
For those that won't click the link, I would like you to read this short excerpt from the "History" link on their website. Anyone considering using their products should read the entire site, especially the "finishing tips".:
TUNG OIL VERSUS OTHER FINISHES
In recent years, those who appreciate the warm richness of beautiful wood have begun to realize what the ancient Chinese knew; when turned into a finishing product, Tung Oil is the finest natural wood finish in existence and has yet to be duplicated synthetically!
Man's ingenuity has created many synthetic finishes, including lacquer, shellac, and varnish all of which protect wood with a hard impervious layer. But these surface finishes prevent the development of patina, the lovely depth and tone that only natural aging can produce. Eventually synthetic finishes will break down and discolor, when that happens the entire surface must be removed by labor intensive stripping and sanding before another coat is applied.
Penetrating finishes formulated with linseed, soy or paraffin oils actually go into the wood and enhance its natural beauty, but these oils often dry incompletely and fail to form a hard and durable surface. Furthermore, they develop a gummy build-up when additional coats are applied. Linseed oil, the most commonly used penetrating finish, darkens and changes color with time and finally disintegrates.
A Polymerized Tung Oil finish is hard yet flexible, waterproof and impervious to alcohol and many food acids. Polymerized Tung oil as a penetrating oil allows wood to continue its aging process and to develop its patina. The wood's rich color and grain are enhanced by the natural ambering (coloring) of Polymerized Tung oil over time. Any sign of wear disappears when a thin "maintenance" coat of oil is rubbed in. The maintenance coats, rather than cause a build-up, actually improve the patina as they protect and preserve the wood. A floor, a piece of furniture, or any other wood object finished and maintained with Polymerized Tung Oil will never have to be stripped again. The finish will become more beautiful with time.
POLYMERIZATION AND FORMULATION
As Tung Oil dries and cures, the molecules join together in a tight complex formation. This process is the secret to Tung Oil's effectiveness as a finish. The cross linking of the oil's molecules makes the surface waterproof and impervious to many chemicals. The bonding also gives flexibility to the surface, making it capable of withstanding wear and tear.
