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This video is taken from the 3 Simple Leaves project.
Linseed oil tends to make wood darker, often more yellow to begin with; it also shows up the grain more. On the other hand, beeswax tends to keep the same wood lighter. You can use this difference to add subtle emphasis in a carving without staining.
| 14 April 2018 09:57
Thank you Chris!I will oil them!
| 12 April 2018 17:30
Ira - Wax doesn't take to water well and varnish will rub off. I'd oil them, letting the oil dry well..Then periodically in the future you can freshen them up with a wipe with an oily cloth.
| 12 April 2018 16:42
Hello Chris, I was not sure where to put this question, maybe here is more useful.
I am carving what I intend to be a clothes hanger for the wall. I am not sure what finish will be better. It is going to be inside, so wax may be enough but maybe the wax damage the coats.... On the other hand we might hang wet stuff. Do you recommend varnish, wax or oil?
Thank you for your answer!
| 03 June 2016 01:40
Thank you for your answers! That helps me a lot.
Liam
| 01 June 2016 11:00
Liam - On my toes here! In order:
(1) The turpentine thins the oil and helps it penetrate the wood fibres better and seems to speed up the drying time.
(2) Raw linseed oil is just squeezed oil and has a very slow drying time. Boiled linseed oil has definitely been through various processes and contains driers to speed up drying and hardness. I've always used raw because it's a little thinner but you can use either or a mix with the turpentine on your carvings.
(3) Flaxseed oil and linseed oil are both extracted from seeds of the same plant: Linum Usitatissimu. However, only flaxseed oil is pure and fit for human consumption. Linseed oils (both 'raw' and 'boiled') are refined and may contain additives that improve their properties - so never drink! (
4) I always clean my brushes really well after paint or oil so have no specific ones for either.
Phew...
(Seriously, great questions Thanks!)
| 30 May 2016 23:27
Hello Mr. Pye,
I have several questions. You say in the video that you are using a linseed oil/turpentine mix. Why do you mix the two together? Also, what is the difference between raw linseed oil and boiled linseed oil? And I have heard that linseed oil and flaxseed oil are the same thing; is this true?
One last thing, regarding paint brushes: do keep ones you would use to paint your carvings separate from the ones you use for staining and oiling, or does it matter which you use for which?
Sorry for so many questions at once!
Thank you,
Liam Hedrick
| 04 August 2015 20:29
Peter - I do know that many antique restorers use a mixture of oil and wax to 'rejuvenate' furniture, so, yes, you can mix it; but I've not really used it myself. How about some experiments of scrap wood: different proportions and see what you get?
| 02 August 2015 14:32
Some one told me you can use a mixture of Linseed Oil ( whether boiled or not I don't know) and wax to finish wood with. He mentioned finishing furniture with it though, and this wood carving although it's still working with wood. He said you use 50% oil and 50% wax , you heat the oil and it melts the wax or heat them both together. You give two coats of oil and wax , separately, as a base, then wax on top.
Have you ever heard of, or used oil and wax together, Chris? Would they actually mix together?
Peter Rendle
| 12 January 2015 22:58
Chris, thanks for taking the time to explaining your observation "coat til soaking in slowly". That gives me something to think about when experimenting on a few pieces of spare wood.
| 12 January 2015 21:53
Dermot - If the oil dries it prevents further oil soaking in so you need to add more coats before that happens. I apply more oil until the previous coat is only soaking in slowly, then I know I've got good penetration. I wipe off excess, leave to dry ('cure') and buff to a sheen.
| 08 January 2015 21:39
Chris , when you say you can apply several coats of oil. Do you let the dry in between coats or apply them continuously?
| 27 October 2013 11:57
Majid - In my experience, Danish oil, perhaps because of the various additives, makes light-coloured woods look a bit dirty, a bit grubby; so I never use them here. On darker woods, Danish oil works fine and I do use it. As always, do experiment of spare wood first!
| 22 October 2013 10:07
Can we use Danish oil instead of Linseed oil?
