Treatment of a log house with linseed oil: comparison with other types of impregnation. How to treat a wooden house with oil with your own hands Painting with linseed oil

There is a lot of wood in modern houses. Of course, there used to be more of it. But even now there are a lot of wooden parts in the house (knife handles, window sills, cutting boards, door handles, door frames, handicrafts, and so on). Like any other element, wood can age and deteriorate. Therefore, the question “ How to treat wood with oil to last longer? " - this is a topical issue not only in antiquity (when wood was the main building material), but also now.

How to treat wood with oil? Well, you probably know that there are construction supermarkets. And in building supermarkets there are entire departments with varnishes, stains and other wood impregnations. But on our site, we prefer methods, so this article is mainly devoted to what you can do to handle wood yourself.

So let's get started. And let's start with the simplest way of processing wood - impregnation with simple vegetable oil.

Impregnation of wood with vegetable oil is one of the oldest methods of processing wood. The main purpose of impregnating wood with oil is to increase the moisture resistance of wooden products. So, wood itself is hydrophilic (loves water) and swells when water gets in. Then it dries. Then it swells. And after several cycles (depending on the amount of water, air humidity, etc.), the tree cracks. Which by no means improves either its mechanical or its aesthetic properties.

While impregnating wood with oil

a) closes the smallest pores of wood, polymerizing on the surface;
b) makes hydrophobic (water-repellent) pores large and the entire surface as a whole.

Well, besides this, the impregnation of wood with oil increases its aesthetics, revealing the structure of the wood. Which looks prettier than when the tree structure is not visible.

How oil works: vegetable oils, remaining in the air, under the influence of oxygen, light and heat, thicken, and in a thin layer they “dry out” (polymerize), turning into a semi-solid mass. This characteristic property is inherent in those vegetable oils, which include polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular linoleic and linolenic. The more there are, the more drying ability the oil has. The oils have the highest content of glycerides of linolenic and linoleic acids:

linseed
hemp.

Sunflower oil works worse because it contains less polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Let's see how this is applied in practice.

How can linseed oil be used in wood processing.

For example, you have a wooden knife handle that you want to process. The easiest way is to pick up the oil and rub the handle well. Wait until absorbed. Grate again. And so on - until you get bored. In principle, this is enough for the household level. But if you want more (for example, increased resistance to water), then you can do the following.

The knife handle (or other product) should be placed in linseed oil for several days. To do this, the knife can be placed in a jar with a screw-on lid with a thin slot for the blade, which, after placing the knife in it, must be hermetically sealed.

When the wood of the cuttings is soaked through and through, it must be wiped off with a smooth dry rag. After that, let it dry completely for several weeks. When the oil evaporates, the surface is oxidized and plimerized, which, after some time, becomes strong and elastic.

As you noticed, the period is a few weeks for the oil to dry when processing wood.

Why? Everything is very simple.

Vegetable oil in its natural form, even with a high content of linolenic acid, oxidizes extremely slowly. To shorten the drying time, the oil is subjected to heat treatment with the addition of metal compounds (desiccants) to its composition. When heated, the oil decomposes substances that slow down the hardening, and metal salts provide faster oxidation.

Thus, we get drying oils- formulations, which, within 6-36 hours (depending on the composition, preparation technology and additives used), after being applied to the surface, turn into a hard, elastic film. As you can imagine, the use of drying oil speeds things up significantly. Drying oil can be bought at any store.

But, as we said at the beginning, we are trying to find ways to process wood ourselves. Therefore, let's go further.

The first way to accelerate the polymerization of oil... You can buy both linseed oil and a desiccant at an art store. Well, heat treatment is provided with the help of friction - thoroughly rub oil into a wooden product for, say, half an hour.

Easy and simple 🙂 Although about cheaper - it must be considered ...

Second way to accelerate the drying and polymerization of the oil - this is to dilute the oil by half with turpentine. Turpentine is a mixture of essential oils that are obtained by extraction from the resins of coniferous trees (i.e. from the sap).

In the case of dilution with turpentine, the drying time is reduced to 1-2 weeks. Also keep in mind that turpentine is a toxic substance (see Wikipedia on this), and should not be allowed to come into contact with the skin, much less breathe or drink it.

If you want to somewhat speed up the drying of the processed product, how much to change its color, then you can dilute the oil by half with tar. Tar is a product of dry distillation of wood (wood is burned without air access). That is, this is the same turpentine, only in a coarser and much less toxic form.

Linseed oil can also be mixed with wax. The wax dissolves in linseed oil (if you do this by heating, then use a water bath and keep a fire extinguisher on hand), and when processing wood with this compound, you not only oil, but also wax the surface. This enhances the water-repellent properties of wood many times over.

Naturally, the methods of wood processing do not end there. But we'll finish for now, leaving the other options for next time.

Successful oiling of the wood!

Linseed oil continues to be one of the most popular types of wood finishes. Despite the availability of alternative coatings, which are superior to linseed oil in many respects, they do not cease to appreciate it, first of all, for its environmental friendliness, antiseptic properties, the ability to emphasize the natural texture of wood, accessibility and ease of handling. With all the simplicity of linseed oil, many questions arise regarding the properties and features of working with this finishing coating.

Linseed oil and drying oil: we understand the concepts

Flaxseed oil is a natural substance obtained by cold or hot pressing of flaxseeds. Pure oil can be used as a stand alone topcoat, but it is ineffective in the untreated state due to its low polymerization (drying) ability.

Speaking about the impregnation of wood with linseed oil, as a rule, they mean the use of drying oil. This is a composition modified by heat treatment and the addition of chemical additives that accelerate the polymerization process. Drying oil is also called "boiled" or "boiled" linseed oil.

Features of finishing with crude oil and linseed oil

When processing wooden products with pure linseed oil, one should be prepared not only for long-term drying, which can take up to 3 days (for each layer), but also be aware of a number of important features. The raw product is actively absorbed into the structure of the tree, therefore, the coating of wood with linseed oil has to be done in 5-7 or more layers. Drying on the outside, it does not polymerize well on the inside, which is why a dry-looking product can leave oil stains for a long time. Exposure to ultraviolet light significantly speeds up the drying process. In the sun, treated wood can dry in 6-8 hours, but the tone of the coating will change: it will turn yellowish or even slightly brown.

The drying oil, due to the high polymerization rate, has completely different properties: it dries quickly, is not so actively absorbed, does not change its color. This makes it more practical to use. Regardless of the conditions, the answer to the question of how much drying oil dries is unambiguous - no more than a day (at 20 ° C). This compares favorably with raw flaxseed oil. In the future, speaking about this type of finish, we will mean exactly linseed oil.

Where is the best place to apply this finish?

Impregnating wood with linseed oil does not provide a hard, scratch- and abrasion-resistant protective film. But this type of decorative finish is appreciated for something else, first of all, - environmental friendliness, antiseptic properties, the ability to emphasize the texture of wood and keep it from cracking.

Linseed oil is used to decorate indoor products. It is ideal for covering furniture surfaces that are not subject to intense abrasion, wooden walls and ceilings. She is treated with wooden dishes, children's toys. As a decorative and protective finish, it is appropriate to apply linseed oil to the surface of valuable wood species to maximize their natural qualities.

How to coat wood with linseed oil?

Training... The oil is applied to a dry and sanded surface. The moisture content of the wood must be at least 15%. The work is recommended to be carried out at a relative humidity of no more than 80%. When applying the composition to oily wood species, the prepared surface is additionally wiped with white spirit.

Application... For work, use a brush, swab or lint-free cloth. The composition is evenly distributed on the surface, and allowed to penetrate into the structure of the tree for 15-30 minutes. Excess oil that is no longer absorbed should be wiped off with a cloth or swab along the fibers. Make sure that the oil is evenly distributed over the surface to avoid staining.

Each new layer is applied after complete polymerization of the previous one with preliminary sanding. The number of layers required (in the case of drying oil from 1 to 4) depends on the features of the product's use and the type of wood (small-vessel species require fewer layers due to low absorbency).

The time for complete drying of each layer is up to 24 hours.

How to restore the oil coating?

Over time, the surface saturated with linseed oil changes color, begins to look dry or wears off. This coating is short-lived, but this disadvantage is compensated for by the ease of its restoration. When applied again, the oil will hide all scratches and restore the visual appeal of the wood. If desired, linseed oil can be tinted with pigments to achieve the desired color shades. For products that are not subject to intensive use, the restoration procedure is carried out every two to three years.

What is buttery wax and how do you make it yourself?

Waxed linseed oil is an effective decorative and protective coating that gives wood high moisture-protective properties and increases its durability. The impregnation adds a silky shine to the surfaces and enhances the natural qualities of the wood. Suitable for processing light and dark rocks. The all-natural impregnation is optimal for finishing wooden floors, stairs, doors, furniture and other items subject to intense wear.

Linseed oil and wood wax are easy to make on your own. The easiest way: grated beeswax is added to the oil heated in a water bath and brought to a uniform consistency. The classic proportion by weight is 1: 1. The ratio of wax and linseed oil can be varied, creating compositions of varying degrees of viscosity: from thick mastics to liquid impregnations that penetrate deep into the structure of wood.

How to avoid spontaneous combustion?

The process of oil oxidation upon contact with air is accompanied by an increase in temperature, which can lead to spontaneous combustion of oil-steam rags, swabs, sponges, etc. All consumables that were used to wipe off linseed oil should be thoroughly dried in a flattened state outdoors before disposal, and it is better to soak in water or immediately burn. To store the dispenser and other instruments in contact with oil, use sealed containers.

The tree has a set of good consumer properties, with the exception of the ability to absorb moisture and rot, therefore it needs to be processed.

One of the good protective agents is linseed oil for wood, which can form a protective layer on the surface, preventing the penetration of water particles and biological organisms. Processing is inexpensive, takes a short period of time, and gives good results.

Properties

The oil extracted from flax seeds is used as a culinary product and a multifunctional technical tool. A large number of useful qualities are due to its structure, chemical composition.

The basis of the unrefined plant extract is triglycerides, containing from 60% to 90% of polyunsaturated (linoleic and linolenic) acids. The biological significance of such acids is multifaceted; therefore, flax seed oil is widely used as a food additive.

For industrial purposes, in particular for coating wood with linseed oil, technical grades with a less thorough degree of purification are used. When dried, acid residues polymerize, forming a strong film, similar to a varnish coating.

Processing features

The formation of a natural oil polymer can take a long time, so treated wood should dry for a long time in any case. The crude oil is well absorbed by the wood base, penetrating deep into the inner layers.

Drying of the portion absorbed into the microcells lasts even longer, so you should not rush to apply the next layer. After waiting several days (usually 3 days are enough), you can re-impregnate the tree. In general, the procedure should be repeated 5 to 7 times.

The process can be accelerated by special catalysts - desiccants, which initiate and accelerate the crosslinking of molecules. A small amount of metal oxides are used as activating additives. The product obtained in this way is, in fact, drying oil; under normal conditions, it covers the wood base well and dries up in a maximum of 24 hours, which is much faster than when treated with raw linseed oil.

Furniture, wood products, crafts and household kitchen utensils receive a reliable protective barrier from external influences.

The wood impregnation with technical linseed oil can achieve several goals:

neutralize the effect of moisture;
exclude the ingress of microorganisms;
improve the appearance;
mask small surface defects;
enhance the decorative effect of the natural texture;
keep the penetrating ability for air;
prolong the time of safe use of products.

An additional positive quality of flaxseed oil is its complete harmlessness to humans both during processing and during subsequent use in everyday life.

Linseed oil has no chemical odor, does not emit fumes into the surrounding space; the technology is easily feasible in industrial and home conditions. You can handle wooden surfaces without special special devices with your own hands in ordinary rooms.

Wood preparation

The main condition for proper processing is the covering of dry wood, the moisture content of which should not exceed 14%. If the wood is old, dust, residues of dirt, paints and varnishes must be cleaned from it. Moreover, it is strictly not recommended to wash it with a damp cloth. Otherwise, you will have to dry it again or wait for natural drying. Sand the cleaned wood surface.

If the work is carried out indoors, you need to check the air humidity, the maximum values of which should not exceed 70%. Can be processed outdoors in warm, sunny weather.

Note! It is important to apply linseed oil correctly: in a thin layer, repeating the procedure several times. If you rush and distribute a large portion at once on the wood, you can ruin the whole business.

Small objects made of wood can be immersed in a container, filled with oil and soaked. In large products, the product must be gently and methodically rubbed along the fibers.

It is convenient to distribute the product with pieces of foam rubber or brushes, which should be placed in cold water at the end of the work. You need to store the linen product in a cool place, preferably at freezing temperatures. Otherwise, slow polymerization, oxidation may take place, which ultimately will lead to deterioration of the drug.

On objects that are not exposed to a large mechanical load, the action of the protective layer is enough for 2-3 years, which allows it to be done slowly and calmly.

You will have to tinker with the treatment of floors; with high abrasive loads, the procedure may need to be carried out up to 4 times a year. The result will justify the physical and time costs. The floor surface will look great and will last a long time.

Mixing with wax

To increase the protective effect, you can make a remedy with enhanced protective properties with your own hands. The addition of small amounts of wax will make the surface of the wood silky and even smoother. With this composition, it is possible to process light and dark products located in areas of high mechanical stress: on floors, stairs, armrests, doors.

The recipe is simple and easy to carry out under normal conditions.

A portion of linseed oil should be slightly heated in a water bath, then gradually add pieces of beeswax to it. The ratio of the components must be equal. If desired, you can increase the amount of wax and get a thick mass, or, conversely, reduce the total mass of the pieces and make a viscous liquid.

When working, it is important to remember that all the substances used are organic in nature and can easily ignite near a fire. Therefore, after the complete completion of the work, the brush should be thoroughly washed with a solvent, completely dried in a safe place far from sources of flame. Pieces of foam rubber, flaps soaked in linseed oil should not be scattered, but carefully collected in one bag, the contents of which can then be burned.

During the self-preparation of the mixture in the bath, overheating, direct contact of linseed oil with fire should not be allowed.

Funds bought in stores or competently made with your own hands will help keep the tree unchanged for many years.

Wood is one of the earliest building materials in human history. Houses were built from it, household items and furniture were made - and all thanks to its strength, environmental friendliness and warmth. Despite all its advantages, wood also needs protection.

How to protect wood surfaces?

Wood is a material capable of absorbing water in large quantities. Hydrophilicity causes drying, cracking and deterioration of the material. Of course, small objects made of wood are easier to replace than to protect, but in the case of various designs, only the processing of wood products can help.

For this purpose, various substances are used that not only prevent the penetration of moisture into the structure of the material, but also protect it from the harmful effects of environmental factors.

Flaxseed oil properties

Processing wood with linseed oil allows you to restore the appearance of the material, increases its service life and makes it water and dirt repellent. You can tint the liquid to any shade by adding special pigments.

For wood, it emphasizes its natural shade, highlighting texture and relief, while protecting against rot, mold and mildew. After processing, the product continues to breathe, despite the resulting water-repellent properties. In addition, the oil improves the wood's resistance to drying, flaking, discoloration and cracking.

The impregnation with linseed oil does not form a dense film on the surface of the products, which is typical for many other protective substances. The tool penetrates directly into the structure of the material, endowing it with certain properties. The resulting coating is absolutely safe for humans and does not harm health.

Benefits of flaxseed oil

In hardware stores today you can find a wide range of protective substances and liquids, but many of them can be harmful to human health. Linseed oil is considered one of the best protective materials. For wood, this is a great option, since the product is not only safe, but also has a strong waterproofing effect. Flaxseed oil has the following benefits:

Clogging of the smallest pores in wood.
Environmental friendliness and safety.
Water repellent properties.
Improving the appearance of the treated surface.

The components of linseed oil undergo a polymerization process under the influence of certain environmental factors. This increases the hardness and viscosity of the oil. The protective properties and the curing ability directly depend on the amount of glycerides of acids contained - linoleic and linolenic.

After the wood is covered with a layer of oil, it is left to dry completely so that the impregnation can gain maximum properties. It takes about 2-3 weeks to completely dry. You can speed up this process with wax, tar or turpentine.

When working with turpentine, safety precautions must be observed, since it is a toxic substance and can cause an allergic reaction. Direct contact with unprotected skin can cause thermal burns.

Tar - a product of dry distillation of wood, is, in fact, the same turpentine, only less toxic. The best option is to use regular wax. It is dissolved in a water bath and mixed with linseed oil, which not only speeds up the drying process of the coating, but also increases its water-repellent properties.

Coating a tree with linseed oil at home

To impregnate wood products, it is enough to purchase paint and varnish material in any specialized store, in this case - linseed oil. If you plan to use varnish, then it is preheated.

The mixture of oil and wax does not need to be brought to a boil: this can damage the surface of the wood and, if handled carelessly, cause burns. With hands or a foam sponge, the composition is applied to the surface in several layers, after which it is left to dry completely for several days.

Often they resort to full impregnation of wood - they lower it into a container with linseed oil and keep it for several hours. The appearance of air bubbles on the surface of the liquid indicates that the impregnation process has begun.

Linseed oil for wood is perfectly absorbed. For this reason, after the end of processing, no traces remain on the surface of the products, but at the same time the material acquires increased strength and resistance to wear. Wooden windows are often covered with such a composition, since it protects them from moisture, mildew and mold, which can lead to damage to the product and its rotting.

Any wood surface can be treated with protective agents. Linseed oil does not contain artificial or harmful components, so it can be applied to items such as furniture, dishes, children's toys, floor and ceiling coverings, and wooden windows.

The main condition for processing is a necessarily dried surface. The moisture content in wood must not exceed 14%. Before impregnation, paint and varnish must be removed from old wood, after which the surface is cleaned from debris, dirt and dust. You cannot wipe it with a wet cloth - the moisture will be absorbed immediately. Then the wood is cleaned with sandpaper and the resulting dust is swept away. The minimum humidity in the room in which the work will be carried out must be 70%. It is best to carry out the procedure outdoors in sunny warm weather.

Linseed oil (for wood) is applied several times in a thin layer. Those products that are exposed to frequent use are processed several times a year, which can significantly extend their service life. For all other wooden objects, the procedure can be carried out once every several years. It is not worth treating the surface with oil if it has already been treated with paint or varnish.

The amount of oil applied at one time depends on the texture of the surface and the thickness of the wood. The thinnest layer hardens in 24 hours. If necessary, the impregnation is repeated several times.

Oil is applied using a regular brush or special foam sponges. At the end of the work, all tools are kept in cold water. The rest of the oil is stored in a cool, dark place at a temperature not exceeding 0 ° C.

The best protection of the wood surface is guaranteed by oil wax. It is based on linseed oil and bean wax, which gives the surface a shine and changes its shade. It is impregnated with light types of wood, including valuable ones, from which stairs, windows, furniture, doors, floor coverings are made.

Pure linseed oil is mainly applied to products that are used outdoors, since it only in its pure and concentrated form has the necessary water and dirt repellent properties. For this reason, this substance is often used to treat the walls of wooden buildings.

Flaxseed oil for wood is considered one of the most effective, inexpensive and versatile protective agents. The impregnation process takes a long time, but the end result is well worth the time.

There are two main ways of treating wood with linseed oil - soaking and rubbing.

Method one: rubbing

Fine-grained sandpaper is moistened in drying oil or oil and rubbed with it along the grain of the wood. A similar procedure is carried out three to four times with a break of 24-48 hours, necessary for the surface to dry. For the last time, replace the sandpaper with a regular oiled rag or soft cloth. This processing method is used mainly when impregnating large-area products.

Method two: soaking

It is used for processing small objects made of wood - knife handles, children's toys, handicrafts. The product is completely immersed in linseed oil for several days, after which it is wiped with a soft cloth and dried. The wood is impregnated with oil for several weeks due to its extremely slow polymerization.

There are two ways to speed up the drying process:

Add desiccants to the oil - substances that accelerate polymerization.
Replace it with drying oil.

In principle, drying oil is the same oil, only it contains metal oxides. The duration of the wood processing process is explained by the fact that the natural composition of the substance contains a large amount of linoleic acid, which does not allow it to harden.

Desiccants, in turn, are hardeners that are added to most paints and varnishes. They are sold in ordinary hardware stores.

Why is wood treated with linseed oil?

Impregnation protects products much better than varnishing. In the second case, all dents and scratches remain on the surface, which reduce the characteristics of the composition due to the ingress of water into the formed cracks.
The oil gives the wood surface a soft sheen that does not fade over time.
Preservation of the original texture of the object and its pleasant texture.
Oil impregnation of wood helps to protect it from decay and moisture by clogging the smallest pores.

The process of such processing is quite long, but the end result is worth the time spent. By the way, linseed oil can be replaced with hemp oil - the effect is similar.

As already mentioned, it is better not to use varnish - over time, such a coating begins to crack, the wood absorbs water and begins to deteriorate and swell. Linseed oil penetrates into the structure of the material, preventing cracking and moisture absorption. Such a coating retains an attractive appearance of the product for a long time.

Technical oil

For wood processing, not only food, but also industrial flaxseed oil is used. This natural material forms a thin and durable, easily polymerizing film on the surface that protects against pests, moisture and corrosion. For this reason, linseed oil is so widespread and used in various spheres of human activity, from bluing metals to creating tools for artists.

Application area

In the construction industry, linseed oil is used as a base for the creation of drying oil. In many of its characteristics, it is significantly superior to substances developed by chemical synthesis, while maintaining its safe properties.

In construction, linseed oil is used for the impregnation and processing of various products and structures made of wood - baths, saunas, log cabins. The formed coating protects the surface from moisture penetration, does not allow rotting, deformation under the influence of high temperatures and the appearance of fungus and mold.

When erecting a bathhouse, before the surface of the wood is covered with paints and varnishes, it is thoroughly impregnated with technical linseed oil. This allows you to protect the blockhouse from all sides and extend its service life several times.

Linseed oil is widely used in art, especially in painting, as a solvent for varnishes and oil-based paints. In addition, it is used to cleanse brushes. The main difference between oil and turpentine and solvent used for similar purposes is its affordable price and the absence of an unpleasant odor.

Features of flaxseed oil

Only refined linseed oil is used to cover the wood. The cleaning process allows you to obtain a composition that dries quickly and does not undergo yellowing on the surface of the products. If non-polymerizable acids are removed from the oil, it forms a stronger film on the wood. Hand-cleaned by cold pressing, it has good properties - it dries quickly, is thicker than its counterparts and practically does not turn yellow, especially if it was kept in the sun.

Linseed oil is sold in pharmacies, construction and hardware stores, and in the latter, often with special additives. It is better not to use food grade - it takes too long to polymerize and does not have the necessary qualities. Its feature, which is attributed to both minuses and pluses, is the change in the shade of the wood to a darker one, which, however, furniture makers like to use.

To extend the life of a log house, wood is treated with various compounds. The means used increase the performance characteristics of the material and structure, help preserve the aesthetic, attractive appearance of wood.

The most common substance used in formulations and in its pure form, without additives, for impregnating wood is linseed oil.

The expediency of impregnation with linseed oil

Linseed oil molecules are several times smaller than the micropores of wood, which allows the substance to penetrate deeply into the structure of the tree, to fill even the densest layers. They are much smaller than the molecules of artificially obtained oils, every 50, and this is reflected in the effectiveness of the treatment with the natural composition. In terms of the elasticity of the impregnated layer and the strength of penetration into the wood material while maintaining air permeability, the impregnation with linseed oil is much superior to the treatment with synthetic compounds. When glazing, it is inferior to them only in terms of drying.
Oil impregnation protects wood better than varnish, which is prone to cracking from dents and scratches. Moisture gets into them and reduces the protective properties of the composition. Wood with an oil layer has a soft sheen, its texture is more noticeable and attractive.

Not for oak. Substances contained in natural vegetable oil and in oak wood react on contact, and dark spots appear on the oak surface that cannot be removed.

After oil treatment, there is no dense film on the surface of the wood, the product filled the micropores of the wood and increased the resistance of the material to drying, cracking, discoloration due to aging.
The benefits of linseed oil treatment include:

environmental friendliness. The applied composition is non-toxic and does not emit substances harmful to health after application;
high protective effect. Even micropores are clogged during oil treatment, which increases the efficiency of protecting the material from destruction;
preservation of an attractive appearance.

The characteristic wood grain is clearly visible under the transparent coating. The applied layer protects against decay, darkening, fading under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
antiseptic protection. The oil layer prevents the appearance of mold, fungi;
- hydrophobicity. The wooden surface becomes resistant to moisture;
- breathability. Treated wood does not lose air permeability;
convenient application. A substance safe for health can safely treat the most inaccessible places;
- affordable price. The substance wins the price comparison with the impregnating compositions of the leading manufacturers. The cost of its use can be reduced by replacing edible linseed oil with technical, making a wholesale purchase. To determine the volume of the purchased substance, proceed from the ratio - 1 liter per 10 m² of coverage area.

Flax oil feature

In order to achieve high polymerization and special film strength of the coating, refined linseed oil is used. In the substance that has been cleaned, as with manual cold pressing, there are no non-polymerizing acids, it dries quickly, does not turn yellow, and the treatment will not lead to a change in the shade of the log house over time.
The protective properties and quality of polymerization depend on the amount of acid glycerides in the composition. Therefore, for impregnation, you need to choose an oil with a maximum content of linolenic, linoleic acid.

Other types of impregnation: what to choose?

Other oils and complex formulations with oils are also used to stabilize the condition of the wood and improve its user characteristics. Sometimes the choice of what to process is influenced by the availability of ingredients.
1) Other oils
Linseed oil is used, which is already partially polymerized oil - nut, linseed, thanks to heat treatment. Further polymerization proceeds already in air and faster than when using crude oil that has not been thermally processed. Regular oil is absorbed slowly, it takes several weeks to fully polymerize, and it takes more than a month to apply several layers. Heat-treated drying oil is absorbed immediately, after a day it dries up with the appearance of a film, 2-5 days after impregnation, the treated surface becomes inert, and it can be covered with a new layer.
You need to buy drying oil in special hardware stores. Getting thermally processed oil at home by simmering on fire is dangerous. Some manufacturers have switched to the production of drying oils by safe chemical drying.
In stores, you can find Oxol drying oil, which attracts with a low price. It is made from sunflower oil, but it does not dry out, over time it becomes bitter and darkens. In order not to spoil the frame, it is better to choose other, more expensive than sunflower oils:
- hemp, the effect of it is similar to that obtained when using linseed. To reduce the cost of impregnation (1 l - 600 r), they are looking for a cheaper substance obtained from technical varieties of plants;
- tung, its purchase will cost a little cheaper (1 liter - 550 r). In terms of user characteristics, it is comparable to linseed;
- other natural oils with the property of polymerizing - obtained from poppy, nuts, white acacia, pine and spruce seeds.
2) Oil formulations
To preserve wood - introducing substances into its pores that create a protective layer, compositions based on oils with wax, tar, turpentine are used.
So, the means are used, the main component of which is linseed oil (40-70%), and the additives are wax, turpentine, rosin. Linseed oil (50%) is mixed with other oils - tung (15%), orange (10%), and wax, rosin. Beeswax and carnauba wax are used to improve the user properties of cheap waxes.
A composition is used that is prepared by diluting high-quality drying oil in a ratio of 7: 3 with turpentine. Apply it warm, heating to 50-60 ° C.
The log house can be given the desired shade by adding pigments to the mixture.
3) Waxing
If tar, turpentine are toxic and can provoke allergic manifestations, then mixtures with wax are safe for health and are suitable for external and internal processing of the log house. Remaining on the surface and penetrating into the wood structure, the wax provides good moisture insulation.
4) Compositions with synthetic components
Varnishes, paints with artificially obtained ingredients in the composition harden when dried. The impregnation of wood with such means is inferior in all quality characteristics to processing with compositions with natural ingredients. Its only plus is fast drying. Those who succumb to the temptation to quickly treat the log house with impregnation with unnatural components are faced with the flip side of such a decision - constant restoration work.