Reading an article about "wipe on finishes" and one of the choices was tung oil.  It went on to say, oil from tung tree nuts, etc.

 

Then it listed as an example, Formby's Tung Oil Finish.   Well, there are a few problems.

 

• If you look at the MSDS, it does not show any tung oil in the contents.  I think Flexner just called it a wiping varnish, with 75% solvent.

 

Interesting comments on the Amazon listing that's linked to in the article

• Color = tung oil
• Labeled as "low gloss" but described as "glossy"
• Fine print on the label says "varnish"
• $114.99 for 8 oz!?  Wonder how many they are selling at that price?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Formbys-30069-Finish-8-Ounce-FormbyS/dp/B01LZSP02I?tag=fhmeag-20&asc_refurl=https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/best-wipe-on-wood-finishes/

At one time my former employer owned Formby's, acquired with something else (It may have been the Gillette Company). They got Duracell as well, and sold off both companies fairly quick...it wasn't a business they wanted to be in. But back to the Amazon listing, that ones sounds like it's put up by a third party....maybe some Asian outfit. But at least they spelled "tung" correctly...I've seen it spelled "tongue".

Edited August 26, 2025Aug 26 by Fred W. Hargis Jr

Since Formby's is now discontinued, I’m guessing they’re hoping it will be like Johnson paste wax, where people were paying ridiculous prices on eBay. 
On another note, I find it a shame that marketeers have made the name Tung oil finish to mean any wipe on finish.  Seems you have to be so careful any more. 

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/finishing/confusion-surrounding-wipe-on-finishes/

 

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/finishing/oil-finishes-their-history-and-use/

 

I always thought Homer Formsby was pretty much a snake oil salesman.  Much like Howard's brand.  I once wrote them trying to figure out a product and asked if it was like a Danish Oil.  The response was something like, "Oh, no, it's all domestic oils."

 

I did not realize the Formsby's brand was discontinued.   Finish manufacturers have gone thru a lot of mergers and acquisitions.  The Guardsman brand that I used a lot was at one time independent, then they were bought by Lilly, then bought by Valspar, then Valspar was bought by Sherwin-Williams, who also also owns Minwax.  Some of the other non-poly varnish brands were also bought, some renamed, and some discontinued as people seemed to want polyoneverythane*

 

* courtesy of Steve Mickley

My question is still the same.  Is Tung Oil a good finish?  I have never used it.

If you refer to pure tung oil, I know a lot of folks see it as no different than BLO. But tung oil will take longer to cure and I think I've heard that it may be slightly more water resistant than BLO (that's a pretty low bar). I think most of it sold has been reacted in some way to shorten the drying time, but otherwise I can't see a reason to use it. Like all things in finishes there are a variety of opinions, and there are some folks who swear it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I use Tung oil but not a lot and mostly on oak. I thin 50/50 with terpentine. It does not do well on cherry. I like to apply and then wipe excess after 15 minutes. Usually is dry enough to apply more the next day. with enough applications it will fill the pores on oak.

20 hours ago, kmealy said:

The response was something like, "Oh, no, it's all domestic oils."

Now that’s sad funny. Insert laughing emoji here. 
 

 

17 hours ago, HandyDan said:

My question is still the same.  Is Tung Oil a good finish?  I have never used it.

I use a tung oil mixed with citrus oil on my cutting boards and some bowls and plates. I get it from real milk paint company. I keep applying a light coats until the wood won’t absorb any more, after 4 or 5 days I’ll buff it with a rag and let it cure. Pure tung oil (without dryers) will take about 30 days to cure. Once cured it seems to last a good while vs other oils. I have a maple plate that I made, my wife uses it every morning for her toast, muffin etc for breakfast. Every morning it gets washed with a light dish soap. It’s about a year old now and still looks good. 
you have to be careful though, just because the label says Tung Oil doesn’t necessarily mean it is or that there isn’t a bunch of other stuff in it. 

21 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

If you refer to pure tung oil, I know a lot of folks see it as no different than BLO. But tung oil will take longer to cure and I think I've heard that it may be slightly more water resistant than BLO (that's a pretty low bar). I think most of it sold has been reacted in some way to shorten the drying time, but otherwise I can't see a reason to use it. Like all things in finishes there are a variety of opinions, and there are some folks who swear it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

This is pretty much my knowledge.   If you look at the US Forest Service  Wood handbook: Wood as an engineering material, it says that linseed oil has 0 moisture excluding efficiency.  So even if tung oil had twice as much. 0 * 2 = 0  https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/62200