[Woodcarver] outside wood treatment

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Merryl,

I don't know how hot it gets in Nova Scotia but even though Boiled Linseed oil that has drying agents becomes liquid when warmed with the sun. I have not had any luck, in the summer months here in the Midwest, with keeping boiled linseed oil on any outdoor project. Varsol is a purer brand of paint thinner that helped flow the boiled linseed oil into the wood but didn't add any protective qualities to the boiled linseed oil.

Here is what might happen when the weather turns warm. You may be putting on a coat of boiled linseed oil as often as ever month because the top of the endgrain will be very dry. The bottom of the exposed endgrain will develop sticky drops of oil that has run through the vessels of the wood. In the end you may end up using the Varsol as a cleaner to clean off the linseed oil so it will take a more permanent coat of spar varnish or something along the line of a good outdoor oil such as General Finishes makes.

Ash is not a good choice for outdoor woods so the finish should offer as much protection as possible from the sun, moisture, bugs and fungus.

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Merryl Bustin 
  To: [Woodcarver] 
  Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 9:34 PM
  Subject: [Woodcarver] outside wood treatment


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  Question:
  I finished carving up a woodspirit on a 4 feet high post of White Ash. I plan to leave him outside, so I gave him a saturating coat of boiled linseed oil and varsol, mixed 50/50. I'll give it another coat or two over the next few days.  I have removed all the bark so the whole post is treated with this mix.
  My question is will this suffice as a weatherproofer, even if reapplied yearly, or should it be top coated with something else?

  Cheers,
  Merryl Bustin
  Nova Scotia, Canada



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