Re: boiled vs raw linseed oil
Nope, turps won't help penetration, but it will lower the viscosity and make it easier to spread. But you need twice as many coats to get the same coverage (build).<br /><br />Penetration is a function of molecule size. Turps just moves the molecules apart, it doesn't shrink them.<br /><br />Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO) is raw linseed oil with driers added that allow it to film in a reasonable amount of time. It doesn't provide any better or worse protection than raw linseed oil. But raw linseed oil will take forever to dry as has been pointed out.<br /><br />But neither should be used on an exposed surface on a boat without a top coat of some kind. Mildew likes feeding on linseed oil and without protection, areas that have been oiled may go black. Oil by itself offers little to no protection from moisture either, and none at all to any long term exposure to water.<br /><br />But if you want to "pop" the grain in wood, and if you want wood to glow, and if you're willing to put a top coat over the oil, there's nothing better faster or cheaper than BLO.<br /><br />Good luck<br />Nikko
