The moment I see the words Tru Oil my blood pressure rises a couple of notches. A lot of money for a small bottle of wiping varnish, it is just the standard 1 : 1 : 1 mix that has been around and used for more than a centaury. On this side of the pond we call it a product health and safety sheet so what ever you call it on your side of the pond obtain one for Birchwood Casey Tru Oil and you will see that it is one part oil one part varnish and one part solvent carrier they always hide the varnish as modified oil meaning they have added a resin.
So lets make the stuff!
Two teaspoons of quality linseed oil. two teaspoons of varnish your choice but NOT!! Polyurethane varnish (Spar varnish was the traditional varnish to use but today hard to find the real thing because they use a synthetic resin rather than Copal plus Tung Oil is far to expensive to use for paint store varnish there are far cheaper alternatives, finally two teaspoons of solvent carrier (turps substitute, mineral spirit, paint thinners). Minimal cost to fill your expensive over hyped Tru Oil bottle.
A far nicer version is one part Tung Oil or one part Edible Linseed Oil (sometimes sold as Flax seed Oil) one part quality varnish (S0 called Spar Varnish has a colouring agent in it to counteract UV so not good) 1 part pure Turpentine (it works well and I like the smell) though you van use what ever substitute for this you like.
Please try to keep in your mind that it is not the finish that produces a good result IT IS THE FINISHER!!
Last edited by damascus; 12/15/22 06:05 AM.
