Professionals and Amateurs Together

Finish Not Drying

Question

I have put a tung oil/turpentine/urethane mix on my finished work and it is not drying (it must be a stale mixture). What do I do now? How do I clean it off or what can I add to harden the finish?—Jim Forbes

Answer

Richard Oedel replies: In my experience, nothing hardens the finish in this situation. Strip it all off and start again.

Dave Emerson replies: That’s the problem with tung oil more than with any other finish I know of. I use a General Finish mixture of tung oil and urethane. It’s easy, people like it, and I’ve even had a few admiring comments from Furniture Masters!

Tags: Finishing