Teak Oil Vs. Tung Oil

Perhaps, the first thing that we do after purchasing house is interior decorating it which includes choosing the wall color, flooring installation, and of course, furniture. If you take a poll on the most preferred furniture type, then it has to be wood furniture for sure! Why? Mainly because of its authentic look and durability. The popularity of wood furniture isn't a hype and has been a common choice for almost every one of us. However, owning wood furniture requires us to take the necessary care wherein you have to polish the surface timely using oils. One of the best options is application of teak oil or tung oil.

Teak Oil or Tung Oil: A Brief Comparison

Source
Though the names might make you think that these are obtained from the respective trees, this isn't the case. Teak oil is used on teakwood furniture often and hence the name. It might contain different other oils such as tung oil, linseed oil etc. Tung oil, on the other hand, is obtained from the Tung trees of China. The process of manufacturing involves extraction of the oil from the seeds of the nuts after which the oil is processed to remove impurities and later used.

Features
Talking about the features, teak oil for furniture has been a famous penetrating oil. It gets absorbed in the wood furniture in no time and thus very easy to clean the extra amounts. Tung oil is rather shiny and glossy in appearance with a peculiar aroma which makes them a popular choice for those who want to make their home look attractive. Both the oils are highly water-resistant which means they can be used in the long run to prevent the furniture getting spoiled because of excessive rains or moisture. However, this would be the case if you keep outdoor furniture. Teak and tung oil, alike help protect the surfaces from sunrays or UV exposure and help retaining the luster of the wood furniture.

Application
You get both the oils easily in the market however, the method of application is different. For the teak oil, all you need to do is take a soft cloth or paint brush and apply 2-3 coats of the oil awaiting for each coat to dry. The drying process takes around 2-3 days. Teak oil is exclusive for teak furniture however, it can be used elsewhere. For tung oil, however, you have to dilute it initially with the help of citrus solvents. If you see the tung oil in its most natural state, it has a thicker consistency like that of honey. And hence the need of dilution. Another thing that needs to be remembered is that sandpaper needs to be rubbed after application of each coat. If you wish for faster drying, then go for applying tung oil finish since the drying time is quick.

Which is Better?
Well, it is difficult to comment which one is better of the two. Although, both have their characteristic features, there are certain drawbacks which you need to know to decide the better bet. Teak oil is said to give less protection against the UV and sunrays than tung oil and is expensive as well. Tung oil, on the other hand, has been associated with allergies to those who are sensitive to the oil. So, now you can decide for yourselves.

This was the brief comparison of the two oils. The conclusion comes to be pretty vague and of course, the choice is entirely yours! All in all, both the oils are good for hard woods including garden tables, chairs, decking, and home furniture.