- An oil-based finish won't work over an existing varnish or polyurethane coat, because they will prevent the oil from fully soaking into the wood. Remove the existing coat of finish with a chemical floor stripper, available at your home improvement shop. Brush or spray it on, give it a few minutes to soften up the surface, then scrape off the old finish with a putty knife. Follow up by scrubbing off the last of the residue with a stiff bristle brush and paint thinner.
- Use a hand-held power sander or floor sander to take off the top layer of wood and existing stain on the floor, so the wood underneath will soak up the oil. Use 100-grit sandpaper first, followed by 220-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface. Vacuum the floor thoroughly to get up all the dust. Then apply your oil-based stain (if you want the floor stained) with a brush. Starting from the far corner of the room, brush the stain on, let it sit for a moment, then wipe it off with a dry rag. If it's not dark enough, let it sit a little longer. Let the stain dry for at least a full day.
- Apply your tung oil compound from the far corner of the room, spreading it across the floor with a lambswool pad. Put enough on so that it sits on the surface, then wait for the shine to start to dull, which indicates it has been absorbed into the wood. Apply another layer, then another, until it no longer soaks in. Wipe off the excess from the surface with dry cloths. Repeat the whole process for a second treatment 24 hours later, and 24 hours after that. Do it for four or five consecutive days, until the floor won't take any more oil. Give it a final buffing with dry cloths, then let it sit an additional day before using it.
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