You ever saw across a board that has had tung oil applied? It soaks into the wood a good half inch.
I routinely encourage people to make the test. Apply fresh, straight, polymerizing oil to one side of a board and thin it on the other side. As many equal coats as you like. When cured, cut it. Then wait a few dry days and look again. I have done it many times and many people have seen it. The solvent is filtered by the wood. Suggesting it increases penetration is an error.
Tung acts just like linseed and you cannot tell the difference without a serious lab.
