How would tung oil work as a finish for a rod used in salt water only?
(John Vitella) Again, there’s tung oil and there’s “tung oil.” One of them is 100% tung oil and never cures, while the other (much more commonly available product) is a rubbing oil that is actually blended with resins or polymers. This latter does cure, but even so, neither product will yield the kind of moisture retarding qualities that a good spar varnish will. The glow of tung oil is lovely, to be sure, but unless many, many coats are applied, you don’t get a lot of protection. As to salt water, it’s not the water itself (or its accompanying salt) that presents much of a threat. It’s the water vapor, or humidity. I really don’t know if saline molecules would (or could) enter along with ambient humidity, or, even if they did, what effect this might have upon the structure of the cane. But, in the end, I would guess that the rod’s hardware would be more vulnerable to potential salt damage than the rod itself. Wax everything well, flush it, and wipe it all down after each use. Between
