Thread: Gave the Lithgow No1 Mk3 a good clean today...

Raw linseed is the correct stuff to use for timber. Originally stocks were soaked in a bath of warm linseed and then drip dried. Raw linseed is natural flax seed oil and dries naturally over a long period of time. It is slow drying and for this reason requires lots of very thin coats hand rubbed. The first few need to be thinned 50/50 with mineral turps to encourage impregnating into the timber.
Sometimes it can take up to 20 coats with hand rubbing to get the right lustre finish. NEVER wooly it as a thick coat as it will go like gum and never dry. A couple of drops on your hand is all that’s required

Wood needs hydrating and must be fed so you should do all stocks every month or so.

Boiled linseed is completely different....its not boiled at all but rather is refined and has dryers added so its faster acting however the results are not the same. Some of it has other “stuff” also added.

Hand rubbing of raw linseed over many days and nights brings out the best results and remember to use only a couple of drops as it goes a long way.