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Thread: Tung Trees (long)

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Nashville, Georgia
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    1,909

    Tung Trees (long)

    A lot of us use tung oil in finishing our turnings. I thought some of you might like to see a tung tree in full bloom. A person has some in front of her home in the small town near where I live. Lots of the blooms have now fallen to the ground as you can see in one of the pictures. The trees are about 30 feet tall and they produce green balls which fall from the tree in the fall of the year. I planted some of these 2 years ago, and transplanted 30 young saplings this year. In a few years I will have these tung trees blooming down a fence row on one side of my farm. The trees are really beautiful this time of the year. I have lots more of these saplings. During WWII these trees were planted in N. Florida to produce tung oil because our overseas supply was declining. I hope the pictures do the trees justice, and hope you enjoy them.
    Last edited by Glenn Hodges; 10-12-2005 at 6:08 PM.
    Glenn Hodges
    Nashville, Georgia

    "Would you believe the only time I ever make mistakes is when someone is watching?"

  2. #2
    awesome, just wonder how they get those suckers into those small cans.

    thanx for sharing that picture, always wondered what that tree looks like and wouldn't you know it, i am on my way to buy some tung oil right now.

    sascha

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Laguna Beach , Ca.
    Posts
    7,201
    Great...I use the stuff also...majestic tree!
    "All great work starts with love .... then it is no longer work"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Waterford, MI
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    4,673
    So does the tung oil come from those green balls? Or the leaves? Wood?
    Use the fence Luke

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Nashville, Georgia
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    The green balls, eventually turn black, about the size of black walnuts before they are husked are pressed for their oil. The oil comes from these balls which are soft compared to walnuts. I planted these balls and the seedling came from these, and virtually everyone came up. As Paul Harvey would say, "And now you know the rest of the story." I hope I did not bore you with this tidbit about the tung tree.
    Glenn Hodges
    Nashville, Georgia

    "Would you believe the only time I ever make mistakes is when someone is watching?"

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Waterford, MI
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    I asked. Thanks for the tidbit. I now feel ready to face Ken Jennings on Jeopardy.
    Use the fence Luke

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Dayton, TX
    Posts
    3,173
    Thanks for the information Glenn. Not a bore at all. I had no idea where tung oil came from. Looks like a good climbing tree too.

    Ernie

  8. #8
    Cool,

    That makes Tung Oil an even better finish! It is made from trees just like our work!
    Jeff Sudmeier

    "It's not the quality of the tool being used, it's the skills of the craftsman using the tool that really matter. Unfortunately, I don't have high quality in either"

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    La Habra Hts., CA
    Posts
    702
    Now if I make something from the wood--- I guess I would not have to apply any "Finish"! Just a thought!
    Jerry

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Lake Mary, FL
    Posts
    140
    I've seen these in the area of North Florida where I grew up. There is even a road a few miles from the house I was raised in named "Tung Oil Road".

    Thanks for the information.

    Kevin

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