Finish for Pine Bed and Table ? I'm a Newbie, Pls help

Hi, I’ve gotten a batch of pale white colored pine pallets, wanna use them to make a stacked bed (2×3*3) and 2 similar low tables (2×3*1 and 2×2*2) one for outdoors.
My carpenter said they’ll sand n apply it, but i need to choose the polish.

Given both surfaces will be attacked by water n food n baby cousin climbing endeavours, I’m thinking to use pure Tung oil for waterproofing, and then a slightly more durable but still food safe finish to close it up, maybe a sealent/different second finish for the outdoor one.

Aeroplane pure Tung oil (will one coat be enough or 2{Q1}, n how much Tung oil for 1 sqft of Pinewood ?{Q12}) – https://amzn.eu/d/1nB2oOJ
Aeroplane Beeswax Finish (will this be durable enough for frequently used items ?{Q3} I’m guessing like odie’s u can just apply some more if it comes off, can you ?{Q4} …) – https://amzn.eu/d/cqKLZ6E
I'm not considering Polyurethane/crylic etc. cuz they are said to have a solid n plastic-y feel on the wood, n i def want a smooth but wooden feel, especially given that they are pallets.

I was thinking Odie’s as the second finish instead, but it darkens the wood, n i don’t want the lovely white color to darken beyond the Tung oil’s warm tone.{Q5 - will it?} (So no color changing finishes pls)

And any recommendation in the sealent/second finish for the outdoors table ? These pallets have already been seasoned n lived outdoors for quite a while but i feel like rain protection is always the best, n this place has both a decent sun and tiny hail in rain. It does need to be non toxic/food grade tho cuz I have little cousins who will definitely eat off it n the other surfaces at some point. Or just bite it, idk. {Q6 - recc}

Also for the Tung oil, is it a good idea to mix it with a solvent for the first layer{Q7}, n then all Tung oil for the second layer{Q8} ?(so to limit the colour change ?{Q9 - will it affect color}) Can u recommend me a suitable solvent (does it need to be food grade too, as it apparently evaporates ?{Q10}), I can’t use D-limonene as it’s too costly here or is it the only one that can be used in this situation ?{Q11 - only option?}

I’ve looked some stuff up, but I’m a complete newbie when it comes to working with wood n finishes directly. Hope it turns out great.

Also for either finishes, how long should one wait, before wiping off the excess ?{Q12&13 - Tung & aeroplane Beeswax}
For context, I live in Bangalore, India.


PS – why I think the surfaces will be used often is that : For the bed my mattress is smaller than the full pallet bed, so there'll be bare surfaces on all three sides, the table won’t have a cloth on as the bare wood goes with my home’s aesthetic, the table outside will be drying chillies n other herbs n have bbq parties n won’t have a cover on it most times either.
-I’ll be putting the planks on the pallets together to create a gapless smooth surface for the items. Ideas on how to use the bare base planks are welcome. {Q14 - suggestions}

Phew that’s a lot but I will give it a go.
Q1 Tung Oil - two coats is better you will see how much it soaks in depending on timber.
Q2 pine - see answer to Q1
Q3 beeswax - yes it will be durable enough
Q4 application - yes simply apply more if and when it needs it.
Q5 Odie s - if you think it will darken the wood, then just use Tung oil only.
Q6 biting - kids will bite it and if they don’t like the taste they will stop. The small amount wont worry and they will eat far worse in their life.
Q7 thinning - yes you can thin the first layer
Q8 second - second coat can be straight Tung oil, the can it comes I. Will have instructions for application, follow them.
Q9 colour - following can instruction it should not alter colour.
Q10 D limonene - never used it
Q11 options - refer Q9 and Q6
Q12 how long between coats (Tung) - very weather dependent, it can be a couple of days or just hours
Q13 how one between coats (beeswax) - as above but up to a week before recoat.
Q14 bare base planks - not sure what you mean by this, however this seems like your first project and like my first project I learned what worked and what did not.

Searching the forums and reading through will give you insight, you tube pallet furniture and again you can see how things work and don’t.
my best advice is give it a go, your timber is cheap and you are out the cost of time and some finish. If it doesn’t work out generally it will get repurposed into something else (once you have learned what was good about the design and what was bad)

good luck
cheers

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Originally Posted by Wrongwayfirst

Phew that’s a lot but I will give it a go.
Q1 Tung Oil - two coats is better you will see how much it soaks in depending on timber.
Q2 pine - see answer to Q1
Q3 beeswax - yes it will be durable enough
Q4 application - yes simply apply more if and when it needs it.
Q5 Odie s - if you think it will darken the wood, then just use Tung oil only.
Q6 biting - kids will bite it and if they don’t like the taste they will stop. The small amount wont worry and they will eat far worse in their life.
Q7 thinning - yes you can thin the first layer
Q8 second - second coat can be straight Tung oil, the can it comes I. Will have instructions for application, follow them.
Q9 colour - following can instruction it should not alter colour.
Q10 D limonene - never used it
Q11 options - refer Q9 and Q6
Q12 how long between coats (Tung) - very weather dependent, it can be a couple of days or just hours
Q13 how one between coats (beeswax) - as above but up to a week before recoat.
Q14 bare base planks - not sure what you mean by this, however this seems like your first project and like my first project I learned what worked and what did not.

Searching the forums and reading through will give you insight, you tube pallet furniture and again you can see how things work and don’t.
my best advice is give it a go, your timber is cheap and you are out the cost of time and some finish. If it doesn’t work out generally it will get repurposed into something else (once you have learned what was good about the design and what was bad)

good luck
cheers

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Q2 - i wanna estimate how much I need to buy ?

Q3 - You have used beeswax ? Even the option i linked, would be durable ? For running, stepping, items being pulling over it, kids biting, falling on it off the mattress, charging extender n wires, matts n utensils ?

Q4 - Even the one I linked ?

Q5 - I don't know. Have u ever worked with Odie's ?

Q6 - It was more like a recommendation for a rain and sunlight safe varnish, cuz the beeswax finish i linked mentioned they don't claim they are outdoor safe so. Need a different one for that.

Q7 - sure, but do i need to ? Or two layers of pure Tung would be fine ?

Q9 - But Tung oil is known to change the color n add warm yellow, how will it not change color ?

Q11 - Do u know any solvents i can use with Tung oil, to dilute n apply it ? I'm nervous cuz there'll sef be some food that drops directly on the table that we'll pick up n eat ...

Q12 - the item i linked said 2-5 days, but I'm not asking between coats. I'm asking how long after applying do we wipe off the excess ?
Q13 - they item linked said it can be done the same day, but also same confusion as above ?


Thanks for the tips, will enjoy them !

(Bare base planks - the planks on top of the pallet will be removed as to be used on other pallets to close the gaps in them. So there'll be a lot of pallets without the top planks, so just the bottom supports.)

I get it, you haven’t used the products before - but sometimes you just have to jump in.
so Tung oil is used as a floor polish (stain) if it is thinned out floor polish people would simply use turpentine or similar to thin it.
eg kids all over the world crawl lick their hands that have been on these floors. We have a 10 second rule for food that falls on the floor. So I can’t see a problem. As for chewing , again they would need to eat a lot.

given timber moisture content, ambient temperature variation it is impossible for me to assume time between coats or how much you need. Like when buying paint how much paint to paint a room, can never get it right. Tung oil won’t go off so you can use it on other projects.

similar can be said for beeswax, once set, think coffee tables chairs or any furniture if food falls on it you still would eat the food that fell on it. Again you would have to eat a lot of furniture to get enough beeswax to measure.

woodworking is a learning experience, we all get to where we are by asking advice and then trying ourselves. If you really want to see how Tung oil works buy a small container and apply it to a small section of your wood.

cheers

I recently finished a hardwood chopping board with pure tung oil diluted 1:1 with D-Limonene. It took 8-10 coats 24 hours apart to get what I considered a reasonable finish. It also significantly darkened the wood. To be honest, I don’t think it’s a practical finish for large projects.

Yup, but there's finishes that people recommend to wear masks n gloves with when applying, just trying to avoid those.

I didn't understand turpentine thing ?

Mostly need a finish that doesn't turn wood like plastic, n can help my pine survive the rains n sun if outdoors ?

Yup, but I'm only using 2 coats of oil, cuz I'll have 2 coats of beeswax on top to keep it wrapped up.

Mostly need a waterproof finish that won't turn my wood into plastic, for my pine to survive the rain n sun od outdoors.

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Originally Posted by BASHAI1900

Mostly need a waterproof finish...

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In that case I don't think tung oil is the answer.

For internal stuff - Check out the various brands of finish marked as hard wax oil finish. Have been using Fiddies and Lobo for a couple of years -other brands out there as well. Normally on furniture you roll on a seal coat -let that dry say 24 hrs sand back with 320 grit then wipe on and wipe off ( very Karate kid style ) Vigorously and finish with full length wipes with the grain. Might need a second coat in between for pine, being quite absorbent. can be easily touched up in future and fairly durable ( they are doing floors with this stuff! ) Outdoors your on your own - I'd like to know what is good there too - Full sun full rain!

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Originally Posted by wood spirit

Outdoors your on your own - I'd like to know what is good there too - Full sun full rain!

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After trying many finishes outdoors, including marine varnish and expensive products from Sikkens, I've come to the conclusion that only thing that works is a cheap oil finish applied liberally and frequently.