Tung Oil and Yixing pots

[everyman]

Hey -

First let me remove stress - I'm not putting tung oil on a zisha pot.

I'm building a stand for my teapots and am considering finishing it (the stand) with tung oil.

Question for you more experienced crafts-folks. Does tung oil fully harden/setup with enough time? Or will I run the risk of the oil being drawn from the wood into the very porous pot?

Two, how long to let it cure if it does fully cure?

Third, if tung oil isn't a good idea are there any do's or don'ts in selecting a topcoat/sealer/final finish?

Thanks

Andrew

[jayinhk]

Interesting question! Tung oil will probably soften with heat and some will be transferred to the bottom of your pot. I use beeswax or Renaissance Wax on wood myself, and occasionally tung oil finish (which is really varnish and oil). My tea table is bamboo and I use a large porcelain bowl for my Yixings at work. Tung oil is an absolutely beautiful finish, but perhaps not the most suitable where hot tea is concerned.

[everyman]

For clarity this is a display only stand. The pots will be cool and dry.

However, I'm starting to get leary of tung oil for this. If heat can soften it and bring it back to an oily state leading to absorption, maybe it's time to go for another finish.

[jayinhk]

How about a wood base with a clay or porcelain top to rest your pots on? We have several Chinese ceramic planters at home that are set up in that manner; porcelain on top and rosewood legs underneath. I personally rest my Yixings on top of a varnished wood surface.