Finishing with Tung Oil

[Technotitclan]

Hey guys. My question is not regarding a bass build, unfortunately, but I thought you guys could help. I recently build a desk for my music room out of reclaimed limber from a 30 year old shed a neighbor recently tore down and figured I would finish it with some dark tung oil I had bought not that long ago.

The problem I am having is that months after I have finished applying the finish it still has that fresh out of the bottle tung oil smell. I've done oil finishes before with no issue, like BLO. What I did not realizes is that I bought RAW tung oil. My google-fu has found that raw oil needs a dryer like japan dryer added before applying. Everything that I've found that without a dryer it should take a few weeks to maybe a month to cure and the smell will go away. Since its been 3 months in a very well ventilated room and its still producing an odor I'm a bit concerned, especially since winter is around the corner and i will need to close up the windows.

My question is: is there anyway to get it to stop venting off other than to cover it in poly? I've already tried multiple attempts with a heat gun to see it that would expedite it but that only reduces the smell for a day or two then its back to its pungent self.

Obligatory pic of the offender. I'm otherwise SUPER happy with how it came out. It has a ton of mojo from its years as a shed. I also have more pics if anyone wants them.

 

[Deep Cat]

I'm not sure why you need a 4 neck bass with 90 degree neck angles, but who am I to question art. Love the relicking though. They'll call it a coffee table instrument, and they'll mean it to be derogatory, but I think it's a compliment.

Someone stop me!

I wish I could help. My inexpert opinion is remove the finish with whatever works and start over.

Try again with activator/hardener.

 

[Technotitclan]

I'm just trying to stay ahead of the curve and invent the next big thing in bass, you know. I know its a bit unorthodox but I think it will be a big hit in the next five years.

I thought of removing the finish but other than the smell its perfect. I was thinking if i can't find a solution I'll just spray poly on top. In all honesty the smell isn't really to bad to me, It just gets to be too strong when locked up in my music room which isn't a huge room.

 

[TundraMan]

If you don't want to go the poly route I would imagine a coat of shellac would seal up the smell.

 

[Technotitclan]

I figured poly just because its easy to get and easy to apply. I'd like to avoid any hard finish that will go over top of the wood. I'd like to keep the wood itself open to keep its old beaten up character. I'm just hoping for some knowledge on how to get it to finally cure. Though I will consider the shellac option though as it will better fit with the age of my house since it was built around the time shellac was big.

 

[Scoly]

I think I just wet myself after Deep Cats comment

 

[Manton Customs]

If the smell was bothering me I'd wipe down with solvent (Naphtha), this won't completely strip it but should take off the top layer which will be the problem area. Then apply a final coat of a good tung based wiping varnish. Or just live with the smell if it's not tacky or too strong smelling. As you've already realised, your slip up was using raw tung! Same goes for raw linseed....don't!

 

[Technotitclan]

I hadn't thought of putting on a proper coat of oil over top the old stuff, I may try this. I have however wiped it down with alcohol and that did cut back on the odor for a day. Honestly, smells don't really bother me at all, and I kind of like the smell of tung oil, however in the small room its it the smell gets to be overwhelming after a week if the windows are not open.