Mixing linseed oil and turpentine
If desired, you can mix with linseed oil with 20 percent turpentine. As a result, the agent is slightly thinner, and, in particular, the first layer can penetrate the wood well.
A maximum protective layer can be built up. The second layer of linseed oil can be applied undiluted.
Linseed oil can be applied to the material in several layers, and this protects the material even better.
Turpentine is the natural variant of synthetic turpentine.
Turpentine is made from resin from conifers and is used when painting with linseed oil. For outside and inside, you optionally use turpentine to make your primer layer.
For outside, we recommend preparing your primer layer with turpentine (see instructions for use). Turpentine is NOT replaceable by synthetic turpentine.
Refined linseed oil
linseed oil has undergone several processes and is, of course, also the most expensive linseed oil variant.
This oil is used, among other things, to make oil used in the production of alkyd resin, high-gloss lacquers, and printing inks.
The serious cooking of this oil produces a light-colored, polymerizing oil with excellent pigment absorption properties. This oil is produced in different thicknesses (viscosity) and is used in all places.
Adding an appropriate amount of Tung oil to the linseed oil during the cooking process at the correct temperature creates a refined oil that yellows less quickly. We call such a mix Enriched Boiled Linseed Oil.
What can you use boiled linseed oil for?
- Wood preservation (the oil prevents the penetration of moisture, which slows down rotting).
- Suitable for all kinds of wood, including pine, Douglas fir, oak, hardwood, and bamboo.
- As raw material for paint
- Against drying out of wood. Garden wood, oak beams in houses and barns, hardwood planks, etc.
- Metal protection. Protects metals from rust, Penetrates extremely well into rusty iron.
- Floor treatment. It can be applied on wooden and concrete floors (very thin layers!), creating a protective layer.
Wood color after treated with linseed oil
The color depends on the sun, type of wood, degree of moisture in wood before application, layer thickness, etc.
Linseed oil treatment gives a brown color. Especially if the wood comes into contact with the weather and wind outside, the wood can discolor further towards a grey/black color.
How to boil linseed oil?
This linseed oil is obtained by heating raw linseed oil, extracting from oil flax to approximately 190 degrees, and adding additives.
The drying time of boiled linseed oil is about a day. The drying time can also be considerably shortened by adding approximately 1% siccative to raw linseed oil.
With some polishing recipes, up to 25%, siccative is sometimes added. In those cases, the drying is not further accelerated, but the color and effect of the siccative on the wood are used to get a nicer result.
If too much siccative is applied for serious oil applications, the life of the oil film is drastically shortened.
Applying boiled linseed oil and turpentine
- Sand the surface to the level you want.
- Dilute the first layer of boiled linseed oil with approximately 20% turpentine oil to allow the first layer to penetrate deep into the wood.
- Apply the oil generously and let it soak in for half an hour. Spots that quickly become dull can be immediately provided with the next layer of oil.
- After about half an hour, remove the oil still left on the surface with a cloth and let the oil dry for a day.
- Then repeat the treatment for one or more days until the desired degree of shine is achieved. The following layers of oil do not need to be diluted anymore.
Linseed oil and turpentine for natural stone
Natural stone was traditionally provided with a protective layer consisting of a mix of linseed oil and turpentine.
The turpentine served to dilute the linseed oil so that it could penetrate the stone as well as possible, and the linseed oil helped protect the stone, prevent watering, and make most types of stone, a lot more beautiful.
Linseed oil with turpentine has been a tried and tested recipe for centuries, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, it can be even better.
Disadvantages of linseed oil for natural stone
One of the disadvantages of linseed oil is that this oil has limited chemical resistance, which means that you break down the oil unnoticed if you clean your hard stone sill or tiled floor with modern chemical cleaning products.
The solution to that problem
It is not to opt for the traditional boiled linseed oil to finish your natural stone but to work with Enriched Boiled Linseed Oil instead.
This type of linseed oil contains a part of Tung oil and is therefore not only more resistant to all kinds of maintenance products but is also more weather-resistant and therefore has a longer lifespan when used outdoors.
If you also carry out maintenance with traditional linseed oil soap, there is even less maintenance because the oil film is then automatically replenished during cleaning.
What is the difference between pure and boiled linseed oil?
Boiled linseed oil is an oil that dries faster and looks nicer. Raw linseed oil can withstand moisture better but is not weather-resistant, while boiled linseed oil is.
Diluting the linseed oil is very important, so don’t forget to do this.
Other use of linseed oil?
You use linseed oil for many different things. You can use it to keep your brushes in condition, keep wood flexible, and impregnate dusty concrete floors.
You also use linseed oil as protection to prevent rusting through. You can use linseed oil for many more different things. Different types are good for other things.
The oil has a clear color and is very suitable for treating wood (such as ladders, beams, and floors), metal, flagstone, and dusty concrete floors and for protecting it well against moisture and other weather influences.
Applying boiled linseed oil to concrete
Applying boiled linseed oil to concrete is a possibility. It is best to dilute linseed oil with turpentine and then apply it in a thin layer. Then rub with a dry fluff and a dust-free cloth.
Origin of linseed oil
Linseed oil comes from the flax plant, and this flower contains about 40% oil.
The vasculature grows in Europe, Canada, and Russia. You get raw linseed oil by pressing this flour.
Until 1930, this oil was extracted using oil mills, oil wringers, and hand mills. Now, of course, this is done by machines.
Yet, there is still a small group of people who want to keep this tradition of pressing by hand and therefore still press the flax plant by hand.
How do you use linseed oil?
If you use it to treat wood, make sure that the surface is clean, dry, and grease-free.
A little sanding and brushing off the dust again, apply the oil with a brush and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
Treat areas that are dull and dry again. Then let it dry for another half hour.
Remove any excess linseed oil with a lint-free cloth or cloth, and let it dry for at least 24 hours.
Important: The linseed oil must not form a layer. This means that the linseed oil must not lie ON the wood but must penetrate the wood.
CAUTION: Do not cram and store the cloth you use after use. This is dangerous because it can cause heating, which can spontaneously ignite the cloth! First, unfold and let dry well, or store in a bucket of water.
Linseed oil, also suitable for metal
linseed oil is not only a super means to protect the wood, but you can also use it for metal surfaces or objects. A thin layer protects metal from rust.
Treating concrete or sand-cement floor
Old concrete floors are also worth treating with linseed oil.
Linseed oil has a solid impregnating effect and absorbs to the top layer of the concrete so that you can prevent the ‘dusting’ of your old floor.
How to apply linseed oil to an old concrete floor
- The floor must be clean, dry, and free of grease before treatment.
- You should leave the first layer of linseed oil on for at least half an hour.
- If you still have dry and dull spots, treat them again and let them dry for another half hour.
- You can repeat this process until you are sure that your surface is well saturated with linseed oil.
- Finally, you can remove any excess oil with a lint-free cloth or cloth.
- Let the result dry for at least 24 hours.
New concrete floor? Wait four weeks before treatment
Do you have a concrete or sand-cement floor that has just been poured?
Then you have to wait at least four weeks before you can treat it with linseed oil. The reason for that is chemical.
The new concrete floor has a basic character in the first few weeks after pouring, which affects the linseed oil.
If you treat too soon, the layer of oil can lose its protective properties, and you may have to start over.
How much linseed oil do you need?
How much oil you need depends, of course, on the surface. To properly treat wood, you need a liter of oil for 8 to 15 m².
The consumption of wood strongly depends on the type of wood and the condition of the wood. If the wood is more porous and therefore absorbs a lot of oil, consumption is considerably higher than with, for example, a “dense” type of wood.
The same applies to concrete: depending on the ‘suction’ of the concrete, you can treat 8 to 15 m² per liter. Metal is, of course, not porous, so that you can treat at least 15 m² with a liter of it.
Treating wood with transparent linseed oil
Are you looking for a transparent, natural product for the protection of wooden elements outdoors? Then we recommend using good, transparent linseed oil.
This protects your wooden fences, decking, garden sheds, or garden furniture against all kinds of weather influences.
Transparent wood oil or linseed oil is available in different, translucent colors so that you can make the wood darker or lighter yourself.
This emphasizes the natural beauty of wood. Do you want to get it completely opaque so that you no longer see the wood grains? Then we recommend treating the wood with an opaque stain.
How to apply linseed oil properly
One of the advantages of oil is that you do not need a primer to apply this product correctly, and it impregnates excellently. You can get started right away.
