Linseed oil from Sweden: superior protection of wood
Are you looking for a sustainable way to preserve your wood? Do you want to treat or impregnate your wood so that it is protected against moisture?
Protecting (hard)wood with high-quality linseed oil ensures that your wood lasts much longer. Linseed oil makes your wooden decking, teak deck, garden furniture or window frames water-repellent. Because no moisture remains in the wood, fungi cannot find nourishment, it remains free of wood rot and the bending strength is increased.
Unlike raw linseed oil, purified linseed oil dries much faster. And unlike boiled linseed oil, pure linseed oil does not yellow. A high-quality product for sustainable wood protection!
Preserving wood with linseed oil?
What is purified linseed oil?
Linseed oil is a natural product that is pressed from the seeds of flax. This oil is a mixture of fatty acids, proteins, waxes and antioxidants. Of these, only the unsaturated fatty acids are needed to function as a good impregnating oil. All other components of the linseed oil affect the end result. For example, beta-carotene – the coloring agent of carrots – ensures that normal linseed oil yellows quickly. Normal linseed oil also dries very slowly and not equally quickly in all places. This can cause cracks to appear: with old masters such as Rembrandt, for example, one sees crackle, which are cracks in the top layer of the painting.
Boiling raw linseed oil removes some of these impurities. The oxidation process that takes place ensures that the oil dries faster. Purified linseed oil has all non-drying ingredients removed using a unique purification method. The unnecessary substances that cause yellowing and bacterial growth have been removed from the raw linseed oil. Purified wood oil is therefore a pure, superior, drying wood oil.
Resistant to mold and wood rot
Treating wood with purified linseed oil makes it water-repellent, rot-resistant, dimensionally stable and increases its bending strength. Because the wood is waterproof, fungi cannot grow – no organism can extract nutrition from dry wood or from the oil. An ideal decking oil or patio oil, especially for hardwood, such as bankirai, meranti, red cedar or teak.
Deep penetration into the wood
Purified linseed oil is absorbed 1.5 – 3 mm into the wood. This cannot be achieved with other wood oils that do not penetrate as deeply into the surface. Field tests and tests in a rotting chamber show that wood that is deeply impregnated with purified linseed oil remains rot-free for at least 24 years – even in moist soil! Normal linseed oil does not last even 3 years.
Would you like to preserve wood with pure linseed oil?
Preserving wood with a superior oil?
Step-by-step plan: how to treat wood with linseed oil?
You can apply the oil at room temperature. Heating the oil before applying it to the wood – for example in a deep fryer – allows the oil to penetrate deeper, making it last even longer.
- Heating the oil
Heat Bästa Olja to 130 °C in a deep fryer. You can work safely with the oil at this temperature without it causing burns. The oil will not burn or fume.
- Apply
Apply the linseed oil to completely dry wood. Please note: when applying heated linseed oil, always choose a natural brush (hog bristle) – synthetic brushes melt at these temperatures. You may see small steam bubbles on the surface when you apply heated Bästa Olja.
Spread from areas that are saturated to areas that are still absorbing oil. Continue applying and spreading until the entire surface is saturated. The oil penetrates up to 1.5 mm into healthy wood. Let the oil soak in.
For a penetration of 2-3 mm, heat the surface during work with a hot air blower or an IR heater.
Deep impregnation by immersion in warm oil at 130 degrees is also possible. You can do this, for example, at the ends of wooden posts or at small wooden parts. - Removing excess oil
Remove any residual oil and dust left on the surface after 20-30 minutes (if heated application) or 1 hour (if day temperature application) with a cloth. Oil left on the surface becomes sticky.
For a semi-gloss surface: sand the oil remaining on the surface first with #120, then with #320.
Please note: Linseed oil consists of oxidizing fatty acids that can spontaneously ignite. Cloths, shavings and other porous materials moistened with Bästa Olja should be immediately immersed in water. - Drying
The linseed oil dries by reaction with oxygen and the time it takes to dry depends on two factors: the supply of oxygen and the temperature. At 20°C and with good ventilation, purified linseed oil dries in 24 hours or less.
- Cleaning
Wash brushes and tools used with a strong soap, e.g. Polarsken linseed oil soap. Clean the wood itself with water during maintenance. Do not use soap, as this affects the oil.
“We used linseed oil Bästa Olja for our new veranda. The Douglas wood has acquired a nice warm color. The grain is more clearly visible. It protects the wood against weather influences. Very satisfied with the product !”
Purified linseed oil from Sweden: Bästa Olja
Using a patented method, oil from Swedish linseed is made into a purified linseed oil with superior properties: Bästa Olja (‘best oil’ in Swedish).
What makes Bästa Olja special?
- Does not yellow
- Dries quickly
- Sustainably and organically produced from linseed from Sweden
- Deep penetration into wood ensures very long-lasting wood protection
What are the benefits for the wood?
- Fungi cannot grow in
- Makes the wood water-repellent
- Protects the wood against wood rot
- Makes the wood resistant to fats, petroleum products, salts and acids, such as lemon, wine and vinegar
It is good to realize that wood exposed to sunlight will always age. Linseed oil does not stop this process. The warm color that the wood initially acquires after treatment will not remain that way forever. The linseed oil mainly ensures a much stronger, more durable wood.
Protect wood with linseed oil? Order Bästa Olja
Technical information
Bästa Olja is a drying wood oil that makes wood water-repellent, rot-resistant, dimensionally stable and gives it increased bending strength.
Compound
Drying (oxidizing) fatty acids from linseed oil.
Drying time
Less than 24 hours at 20°C and good ventilation.
Consumption
1-2 dl/m2.
Safety
Respiratory protection is not necessary. Ensure good ventilation, especially when working with oil at 130 °C. The oil has a low thermal conductivity and does not cause burns if spilled at 130 °C.
Unsuitable for consumption: Dries in the digestive tract and causes diarrhea.
Metal objects burn when lifted from hot oil.
Frequently asked questions about linseed oil
Linseed oil is pressed from the seeds of flax (Linum usitatissimum). In addition to oil, these seeds also contain many other substances that must be removed to make the oil usable. In the past, the linseed oil was left standing and the solid parts sank out. Fun fact: The residue on the bottom was used to make putty. In addition to these solids, the raw linseed oil contains 10 -15% other substances that can only be removed by intensive purification. With ‘normal’ linseed oil, this only happens partially, so that the full effect of the oil is negated. For example, beta-carotene, the coloring agent of carrots, ensures that normal linseed oil quickly yellows. Normal linseed oil also dries very slowly and not equally quickly in all places. This can cause cracks: in old masters such as Rembrandt, for example, you can see crackle, which are cracks in the top layer of the painting.
Linseed oil can be used to impregnate and preserve wood (and concrete!), but also to protect iron against rust, to make linseed oil paint or to preserve your brushes. There are different types of linseed oil available. Raw linseed oil is oil that comes directly from the pressing of linseed, making it the most impure. This oil has a very long drying time and will yellow over time. Boiled linseed oil is heated to 270 degrees and can dry much faster due to the oxidation that takes place. Boiled linseed oil is purer than raw linseed oil and yellows less. Purified linseed oil no longer contains any impurities and does not yellow at all. Please note: drying linseed oil is a fantastic wood oil, but is therefore no longer suitable for consumption!
Purified linseed oil is perfect for preserving all types of wood, for example: teak yacht decks, hardwood terraces and decking, wooden garden furniture, indoor furniture, stone and concrete.
Wood consists of relatively open cells, a bit like a sponge. The cell walls provide strength. If water can penetrate into the cell walls (and around the spaces around it), bacteria can attack the wood and cause wood rot. Linseed oil fills these spaces and can also penetrate the cells. After that it hardens (“it dries”) and water ingress is no longer possible. This gives the cells a support.
Bästa Olja is incorporated 1.5-3 mm into the wood. This cannot be achieved with other wood oils, which do not penetrate the surface. Therefore, the treatment is permanent until the impregnated wood layer has worn off, which usually takes decades. The oil colors the wood slightly darker as if it were wet.
Sunlight causes the surface to turn gray over time. The original color of the wood can be easily restored by rubbing a small amount of Bästa Olja into the surface.
The linseed oil slightly makes the color of the wood slightly darker when applied. It will look like the wood is a bit wet.
The purification method removes all unnecessary substances. These are: antioxidants, beta-carotene, saturated fats, proteins and wax. The removal of antioxidants causes the oil to dry quickly. Due to the removal of beta-carotene – the coloring agent in carrots – the oil does not yellow. Saturated fats have been removed because they react with water and feed microorganisms. Proteins have been removed because they are food for all living organisms and ensure the breakdown of linseed oil. Wax has been removed because it causes whitish gel stains in reaction with moisture.
Raw linseed oil has a drying time of one week. The cooked version takes about a day to dry. Purified linseed oil such as Bästa Olja dries in just under a day.
The linseed oil is non-toxic, you can work safely with it. You do not need respiratory protection because Bästa Olja does not contain any volatile or harmful substances. Make sure you have good ventilation. The oil is a poor conductor of heat and will not cause burns if spilled. Keep in mind that metal objects that have come into contact with hot oil can cause burns.
Want to buy purified linseed oil?
WARNING: RISK OF SPONTANEOUS BURNING!
Cloths and other porous materials moistened with linseed oil should be soaked in water immediately before disposal. Surfaces treated with oil will not ignite on their own. The hazard concerns only fibrous materials.
Would you like additional, personal advice?
We are happy to help. Send an e-mail or call +31(0) 6 55 333 165. Watch our Instruction Video for more information. Apply here for a free color-card.
