I've only used tru-oil for finish on my firearms. But I came across an old can of pure linseed oil, and was wondering what the difference is between boiled and pure. It is dutch boy brand if that makes a difference.Thks guys for any info.
Hi Wideagle- contrary to what some of the posters say linseed oil does indeed dry and is classed as a drying oil( unlike canola or olive oils which are non drying)if it does not dry it has been cut or contaminated with something else.It was/is the major drying oil used in Fine Art oil painting for the last 600 years.Boiled linseed (and stand oil linseed) are polymerized linseed oils (the processes's to make each are different but both employ heat)the polymerization makes for quicker dying and a stronger linoxin or dried skin.The polymerized linseed oils will darken with age more than pure linseed.You can add various dyers (lead acetate dryer, terebin etc)to linseed oil to make it dry more quickly but the real 'trick'to using linseed as a timber finish is to thin it extensively with say mineral turpentine ( or gum turpentine) and apply a number of coats, allowing each to dry, over time.This thinning allows the oil to more fully penetrate into the wood.The last thing you want is a thickfilm of linseed on top of the wood, and if any type of linseed is used straight, or thickly without thinning, it will take days to dry.I still have some of my fathers old wooden handled tools ( axe, pick , hammer) that have only ever been treated with linseed thinned with turps and are in remarkable condition.As noted by previous posters boiled linseed was the basic element of most old varnishes ( boiled linseed to which various natural resins and driers were added)But as for gunstocks etc, as previous posters have also noted , there are better and easier proprietary products to use--cheers zoddwildeagle said:I've only used tru-oil for finish on my firearms. But I came across an old can of pure linseed oil, and was wondering what the difference is between boiled and pure. It is dutch boy brand if that makes a difference.Thks guys for any info.
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