How many coats of Tru oil should I apply?
Resist the urge to apply more than 3 to 5 coats before you really take a look at what the finish looks like. I promise if you like the oil finished look, that you will be satisfied with the majority of projects after even the first three coats.
Both of these factors encourage a finish to dry quicker. Tru-Oil takes about 2-4 hours to dry enough for a second coat. This is longer in humid and cold places, and shorter in warm dry places. After a couple hours, lightly touch the piece.
It allows the natural color and grain of the wood to show without changing the color of the wood. I usually apply 3 coats buffing with 0000 steel wool between coats and get a "glass" finish.
I have used Tru Oil on several necks and have found it to be the least sticky finish I have used. I use how ever many coats it takes to be flat and smooth and steel wool between coats.
Buffing out a Tru-oil Tele Guitar Body - Kevin Bond Build part IX - YouTube
The main difference between tru oil and tung oil is that tru oil can give a harder, more varnish-like finish, while tung oil lets you experience the natural feel of the wood. Lacquer finishes can provide relatively good protection, but care must be taken to keep them in the best shape as they age.
In a word, no. Tru-oil, like any oil, soaks into wood to give it a protective finish and you can layer it up from there. If you put oil over paint or lacquer, it's not got anything to absorb into and will just dry as a film over the paint.
You can...it just may not stick. Tru-Oil is a varnish and it should be OK as a base for lacquer after it's thoroughly cured.
Tru-oil out of the bottle is a good protective coat to put on your already seasoned rifle. And it's great too if you want a traditional hand rubbed oil finish. But, for a glass smooth and shiny mirror finish with the least imperfections, spraying was the only way to go.
Re: Darkening Finish After Tru Oil
However, very likely to will darken with age and exposure to light.
What is the best oil for a gun stock?
Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish has been the professional's choice for gun stock finishing for more than 30 years. Its unique blend of linseed and other natural oils dries fast, resists water damage and will not cloud, yellow or crack with age.
Tru-Oil is basically linseed, plus other oils, plus mineral spirits, and I've been told that all the non-drying elements have been removed from the mixture. The secret to using it, if there is one, is to get the finish in the wood, not on the wood. This is why some people thin it, to make it penetrate better.
Luthier Tips du Jour - Tru oil - YouTube
High Gloss Tru-Oil trick - YouTube
Tru oil the easy way - Get a High Gloss finish! - YouTube
It is edible, dries (polymerizes) a bit, and doesn't go rancid. That said, most finishes are 'approved' for food items.
Having used both (but for different things) I would say they're pretty different. Tru Oil builds more of a finish on the surface while Watco Danish Oil seems to soak in more without leaving as much surface film.
Tung oil creates a harder, more durable finish than linseed oil. Tung oil is more water-resistant than linseed oil. Raw linseed oil takes significantly longer to cure than pure tung oil. Tung oil is generally more expensive than linseed oil.
Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil Stock Finish 3 Ounce
Its unique blend of linseed and other natural oils dries fast, resists water damage and will not cloud, yellow or crack with age. Excellent as a sealer for under butt plates, recoil pads and in inletted actions to prevent stock damage.
In theory, you should be able to apply nitrocellulose lacquer over TruOil - as long as the TruOil is completely cured. I've sprayed nitro over Tru-oil many times with no compatibility problems.
Can you varnish over TRU oil?
Shellac will stick to Truoil, but if the layer has any thickness to speak of, it may well check in time. Some oil varnishes can be used over TO, but there are so many varnishes that I wouldn't assume they are all compatible with TO.
Lacquer should not be used over any Waterlox products. Lacquer thinner will most likely soften or damage the Waterlox products.
Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish has been the professional's choice for gun stock finishing for more than 30 years. Its unique blend of linseed and other natural oils dries fast, resists water damage and will not cloud, yellow or crack with age.
How to Get a Glass Like Finish With Danish Oil - Woodturning - YouTube
I rub thoroughly between coats with 0000 steel wool when looking for high gloss. I have done up to 8 coats on a piece. The last couple of coats may be thinned with mineral spirits. You could also wax polish on top of the tung oil to achieve the sheen you want.
The poly will probably work fine. I have sprayed Duplicolor and ProFinisher clear over TruOil with no issues but you don't really need it. Once it has started to build the TruOil should be a durable enough finish on its own.
There's nothing in it to prevent UV darkening of wood.
By the end, it should turn your white maple neck into dark yellow with natural looking scratches and dings on the headstock and fretboard like below. Using Tru Oil on a maple neck can turn it dark yellow like this.
WD-40 is NOT a protectant, cleaner, nor lubricant and should NOT be used on firearms.
Radco Industries has been supplying the U.S. Military with critical application fluids since 2002. Our RADCOLUBE CLP (GUN OIL) is currently being used in combat operations by the U.S. Military.
What is the best gun oil to prevent rust?
Best Gun Oil to Prevent Rust: Break Free CLP
Since CLP is designed to clean, lubricate, and protect guns, it'll take on any and all issues that rust may present. It'll clean them to remove rust; it'll lubricate them to prevent any function issues caused by rust; and it'll protect them from rust in the future.
Luthier Tips du Jour - Tru oil - YouTube
Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish has been the professional's choice for gun stock finishing for more than 30 years. Its unique blend of linseed and other natural oils dries fast, resists water damage and will not cloud, yellow or crack with age.
