Linseed oil for wood. Choosing an oil for wood impregnation. Mineral oil for wood. Which oil to choose

For wooden structures, quality wood is usually used. Therefore, to improve its quality and protect against various factors, various impregnations are used.

Fundamentals of wood processing

During manufacture, the wood is treated with special substances to prolong its service life and prevent the problem of rotting, cracking and fungus. All these actions are referred to the primary phase of wood processing. The second involves surfaces with a special varnish or oil.

Oil differs from varnish in depth of penetration. When applied, varnishes create a kind of protective film, which is erased over time. The oil is able to penetrate deep into the structure of the product, thoroughly impregnating all wood fibers or other wood components. Also a significant plus of the oil is its ability to change the color of the tree, creating unique shades.

Present on the market today huge selection oils different brands and compositions. But all of them can be divided into 2 large groups, which we will consider in more detail below.

mineral oils

Mineral oil for wood gained its distribution decades ago. With the development of science and technology, new technologies have been created that make it possible to produce artificial materials with given characteristics. Like any other material, a wooden board needs additional processing. Half a century ago, it was popular. Of course, it was not intended for such purposes, but the effect of such processing proved completely different, which made it possible to bring mineral oil for wood to a wide market.

When used, wooden products managed to maintain their original appearance and eliminate the processes of decay. Mineral oil for wood often raises questions about production technology. It is very important to observe the environmental factor in this matter. This is why many manufacturers prefer to combine mineral oil with natural oil.

natural oils

This type of impregnation has been used hundreds of years ago. With the introduction innovative technologies artificial refined products became more popular. It took time for a person to realize the benefits that natural oil has in the treatment of wooden surfaces. Also, the determining factor was the high cost of the product, which was gradually solved by borrowing modern technologies production.

The main advantage of natural oil is its vegetable origin. The absence of harmful impurities and additives makes its use safe for human health. The most popular are linseed and wood oils. The latter is cheaper, but quality characteristics loses first.

For wood processing is considered the best. Also widely used sunflower and It should be noted that of all types of sunflower dries faster than others. But we should not forget that against the general background, mineral oil for wood dries many times faster, but you will have to tinker with natural. To somehow solve this problem, chemical components are added to the composition of olive, hemp or sunflower oil that speed up the drying process.

Application features

Working with oil is quite simple and does not require special skills. You will need a wide brush, cloth napkins, sandpaper. The choice of a particular device depends on the method: rubbing or soaking.

• The first one is the most popular. It is applicable in cases where it is necessary to cover large surface. Wooden plank covered with oil with a brush. For the best effect, it is recommended to gradually rub the solution with napkins or sandpaper. The procedure is repeated several times, alternating application and waiting for the complete drying of each of the layers.

• The second method is more suitable for small parts. They are immersed in a special container filled with oil and soaked for several days. After that, the part must be well sanded.

Oil impregnation is quite simple to use, but indispensable for finishing works. It will help to keep the service life wooden structure. The main thing is to take into account all the features. Mineral wood oil may contain toxic substances, but the drying time is minimal. And environmentally friendly, but it will take more than one hour of drying.

Linseed oil and drying oil: understanding the concepts

Flaxseed oil is a natural substance obtained by cold or hot pressing of flaxseeds. Pure oil can be used as a standalone finishing coating, but in the raw state it is ineffective, due to the low ability to polymerize (dry).

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 chemical additives that speed up the polymerization process. Drying oil is also called "boiled" or "boiled" linseed oil.

Features of finishing with raw oil and drying oil

processing wooden crafts pure linseed oil, you should be prepared not only for long-term drying, which can take up to 3 days (for each layer), but also to know a number important features. The raw product is actively absorbed into the structure of the wood, so the coating of wood with linseed oil has to be done in 5-7 or more layers. Drying on the outside, it polymerizes poorly inside, which is why a dry-looking product can leave oil stains for a long time. Exposure to ultraviolet 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 become yellowish or even slightly brown.

Drying oil, due to the high polymerization rate, has completely different properties: it dries quickly, is not so actively absorbed, and does not change its color. This makes it more practical to use. Regardless of the conditions, the answer to the question of how long the drying oil dries is unequivocal - no more than a day (at 20 ° C). This sets it apart from raw linseed oil. Further talking about this type finishes, we will mean linseed drying oil.

Where is the best place to apply this finish?

Impregnation of wood with linseed oil does not provide solid protective film resistant to scratches and abrasion. But this kind decorative finishes valued for something else, first of all, - environmental friendliness, antiseptic properties, the ability to emphasize the texture of wood and keep it from cracking.

Linseed drying oil is used for finishing products used indoors. It is optimal for covering furniture surfaces that are not subject to intense abrasion, wooden walls and ceilings. She processes wooden utensils, children's toys. As a decorative and protective finish, linseed oil is appropriate to apply to the surface. valuable breeds wood for maximum preservation of their natural qualities.

How to coat wood with linseed oil?

Preparation. The oil is applied to a dry and sanded surface. The moisture content of the wood must be at least 15%. Work is recommended to be carried out at a relative humidity of not more than 80%. When applying the composition to oily wood species, the prepared surface is additionally wiped with white spirit.

Application. To 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 is wiped off with a cloth or swab along the fibers. To avoid staining, keep an eye on uniform distribution oils on the surface.

Each new layer is applied after complete polymerization of the previous one with preliminary grinding. The number of necessary layers (in the case of drying oil from 1 to 4) depends on the characteristics of the product and the type of wood (small-vascular species require fewer layers due to low absorbency).

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

How to restore the oil coating?

Over time, the surface impregnated with linseed oil changes its color, begins to look dry or wears off. This coating short-lived, but this disadvantage is compensated by the ease of its restoration. When applying a second layer, the oil will hide all scratches and return the external attractiveness of the wood. If desired, linseed oil can be tinted with pigments, achieving the desired color shades. For products not subject to intensive use, the restoration procedure is carried out every two to three years.

What is oil wax and how to make it yourself?

Linseed oil with wax is an effective decorative and protective coating that gives wood high moisture-proof properties and increases its wear resistance. The impregnation adds a silky sheen to the surfaces and enhances the natural qualities of the wood. Suitable for processing light and dark woods. 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 yourself. The easiest way: add grated beeswax to the oil heated in a water bath and bring to a homogeneous 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 wood structure.

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 steam-oil rags, swabs, sponges, etc. All consumables that were used to wipe off linseed oil should be thoroughly dried outdoors in a straightened state before disposal, and it is better to soak in water or immediately burn them. Sealed containers are used to store the dispenser and other tools in contact with oil.

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

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

Benefits of impregnating with linseed oil

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

Just not for oak. Substances contained in natural vegetable oil and in oak wood, upon contact, react, and appear on the surface of the oak dark spots that cannot be deleted.

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. During oil treatment, even micropores are clogged, which increases the efficiency of protecting the material from destruction;
• maintaining an attractive appearance.

Under a transparent coating layer, the characteristic wood pattern is clearly visible. The applied layer protects against rotting, darkening, fading under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
antiseptic protection. The oil layer prevents the appearance of mold, fungi;
- hydrophobicity. wooden surface becomes resistant to moisture;
- breathability. Treated wood does not lose its ability to pass air;
convenient application. With a substance that is safe for health, you can fearlessly process the most hard-to-reach places;
– affordable price. The substance wins price comparison with the impregnating compositions of leading manufacturers. The cost of using it can be reduced by replacing edible flaxseed oil with technical oil by purchasing in bulk. To determine the volume of the purchased substance, the ratio is based on the ratio - 1 liter per 10 m² of coverage area.

Feature of flaxseed oil

Refined linseed oil is used in order to achieve high polymerization and special strength of the coating film. In the substance that has been cleaned, as in manual cold pressing, there are no non-polymerizable acids, it dries quickly, does not turn yellow, and processing will not change 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 oil formulations 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
Drying oil is used, which is already partially polymerized oil - walnut, linseed, due to heat treatment. Further polymerization proceeds already in air and faster than with the use of raw thermally untreated oil. Ordinary oil is absorbed slowly, it takes several weeks to fully polymerize, and it takes more than a month to apply several layers. The thermally treated drying oil is absorbed immediately, after a day it dries up with the appearance of a film, on the 2-5th day after impregnation, the treated surface becomes inert, and it can be covered with a new layer.
You need to buy drying oil in special construction stores. It is dangerous to get heat-treated oil at home by languishing on fire. Some manufacturers switched to the production of drying oil by safe chemical drying.
In stores you can find drying oil oksol, which attracts at a low price. It is made from sunflower oil, but it does not dry out, bitters and darkens over time. In order not to spoil the log house, it is better to choose other, more expensive than sunflower oils:
- hemp, the effect of it is similar to that obtained when using flaxseed. To reduce the cost of impregnation (1 liter - 600 r), they are looking for a cheaper substance obtained from technical grades plants;
- tung, its purchase will cost a little cheaper (1 liter - 550 r). In terms of user characteristics, it is comparable to linen;
- other natural oils with the ability to polymerize - obtained from poppy seeds, nuts, white locust, pine and spruce seeds.
2) Oil formulations
For the conservation of wood - the introduction into its pores of substances that create protective layer, compositions based on oils with wax, tar, turpentine are used.
So, means are used, the main component of which is linseed oil (40-70%), and additives - wax, turpentine, rosin. Linseed oil (50%) is mixed with other oils - tung (15%), orange (10%), and wax, rosin. Beeswax and carnauba wax are used, which improve the user properties of cheap waxes.
Apply the composition, which is prepared by diluting high-quality drying oil in a ratio of 7: 3 with turpentine. It is applied warm, heated to 50-60°C.
The frame can be given 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, wax provides good moisture insulation.
4) Compounds with synthetic components
Varnishes, paints with artificially obtained ingredients in the composition harden when dried. Impregnation of wood with such means is inferior in all quality characteristics to treatment with compositions with natural ingredients. Its only advantage is that it dries quickly. Those who succumbed to the temptation to quickly treat the log house with impregnation with non-natural components face the flip side of such a decision - constant restoration work.

Frequency of processing and maximum period of its validity

It's no secret that any tree needs additional protection and processing before being used in everyday life. One such way of processing wood is linseed oil impregnation.

Impregnation with linseed oil - how does it work?

What is so special about linseed oil? Among all vegetable oils linseed has the highest content of such polyunsaturated acid as linoleic. When solidified and oxidized, this acid turns into an excellent natural polymer. After the oil becomes a semi-solid, elastic substance that fills all the pores of the tree, thanks to this, such a wonderful effect is achieved when treating wood with linseed oil.

Pros, cons and scope of wood impregnation with linseed oil

Why is wood impregnated with linseed oil?

Linseed oil for wood impregnation is considered one of the best options.

The advantages of such processing include:

Improving the appearance of the product. Linseed oil penetrates into the deep layers of wood, while emphasizing the natural structure of the tree, giving a natural (natural) shade. does not raise the pile of wood, the wood after processing is smooth to the touch and has a beautiful appearance

Increases the durability of wood. Impregnation for wood based on linseed oil can significantly increase the resistance of wood to the effects of factors environment. Impregnation with linseed oil gives the wood water and dirt-repellent properties, respectively, protects the wood from exposure to any moisture, linseed oil is resistant to ultraviolet radiation and well protects the tree from the sun, prevents drying and cracking. Linseed oil, after drying, remains an elastic material, unlike coatings it does not crack over time and does not allow moisture to pass into the cracks formed.

Protects wood. Linseed oil for wood processing is the best natural antiseptic. Treatment of wood with linseed oil protects against processes such as decay, mold and fungi.

Environmentally friendly material. Linseed oil is a completely natural and absolutely safe material for humans and the environment. It does not call allergic reactions and other troubles, has no smell, unlike synthetic counterparts. Impregnation of wood with linseed oil allows the material to breathe, as the oil penetrates deep into the wood and does not leave a film on the surface.

Impregnation with linseed oil is suitable for processing absolutely any wood, furniture, interior items, wooden utensils, external facades of the house, floors, windows, window sills, doors, etc.

It can be safely used for both outdoor and indoor work.

But most often, linseed oil is used for decorative finishing of small interior items. Although linseed oil is not expensive, its consumption for surface treatment is quite high and therefore the treatment of such extensive surfaces as the floor of a house or a facade will result in a decent amount, it is much cheaper to treat wood with wood stain or varnish. In addition, impregnating with linseed oil and drying a large surface is a rather labor-intensive process and will take a lot of time.

The difficulty of applying linseed oil impregnation of a large amount of wood is, perhaps, the only drawback.

It is very popular among hunters and connoisseurs of weapons

Processing is carried out a few weeks before the start of the hunting season. Impregnation is also popular

Impregnation with linseed oil - technology

According to its technology, it is no different from processing with any other oil or composition and consists of the following steps:

- material preparation and surface cleaning. Wood before processing must be dry and cleaned of the old coating. If you will process a new tree, it is enough just to lightly sand the surface.

- oil preparation. Before applying to the surface, it is recommended to heat the oil, in a warm form it penetrates into the pores of the tree more easily and, accordingly, the treatment effect will be higher. Sometimes, to speed up drying, linseed oil with wax is used to treat wood. In this case, wax is added to the oil during heating, heated until the wax dissolves.

- linseed oil impregnation. Impregnation of wood with linseed oil can be carried out in several ways:

Waxing - applying oil to the surface with a brush;

Soaking - when an object is immersed in a container of oil;

Impregnation with linseed oil using a vacuum. Applies to industry only.

Soaking is often used to impregnate small parts. This process is quite simple in capacity required size linseed oil is heated until white smoke appears, then objects are immersed there, the lid is tightly closed and left in this state for two to three hours. Then take out and dry.

When waxing after heating, the oil is applied to the surface with a brush or foam sponge. Apply along the fibers with rubbing movements, repeat the application 5-6 times. Linseed oil penetrates deep into the pores of the wood and is therefore absorbed almost completely, but still a certain amount of oil may remain on the surface, therefore, a few hours after applying the last layer of oil, it is necessary to wipe the surface with a dry rag to remove excess oil. You can let the surface dry after each application and then repeat the procedure, in which case you can control the resulting color, shade and appearance products if it is of fundamental importance, but such a process will take much longer.

Product drying. After applying the last layer of linseed oil, the tree must be dried. This process usually takes two to three weeks, but it can take longer.

After complete drying, the surface is polished using wax, rosin or turpentine.

More clearly shown in the next video. Enjoy watching.

Irina Zheleznyak, Correspondent of the online publication "AtmWood. Wood-Industrial Bulletin"

Impregnate the tree with linseed oil - the most affordable way protect it from decay without the help of expensive means. Oil treatment of wood begins with surface preparation. The wood is cleaned of dirt and plaque and dried well. Then you can proceed in two ways.

Method one: rubbing

The wood is rubbed along the fibers with fine-grained (P400) sandpaper soaked in oil (linseed oil), after which it is allowed to dry. Ideally, this procedure is carried out 3-4 times, and a day or two is given for drying. For the last time instead sandpaper the surface is polished with an oiled cloth. This oil treatment of wood is possible when covering large areas.

Method two. "Soaking".

The second method is suitable for oiling small items: crafts, knife handles, etc. The product is completely immersed in oil for several days, then wiped with a cloth and dried. Impregnation of wood with linseed oil without additives takes several weeks due to the fact that it polymerizes very slowly.

There are two ways to speed up the drying (polymerization) of the oil:

• replace it with drying oil;
• add a desiccant to the oil - a polymerization accelerator.

Drying oil is the same oil, only boiled with the addition of metal oxides. Processing wood with oil takes longer because oil without additives contains a large number of linoleic acid - namely, it does not allow it to quickly harden.

Desiccants are hardeners that are added to all paints and varnishes. They can be easily purchased at a hardware and hardware store.

Why is wood treated with linseed oil?

1. Impregnation of wood with oil is better than varnishing. Scratches and dents are clearly visible on varnished surfaces, which, moreover, reduce the effectiveness of the coating: water will certainly get into the cracks.
2. Treating wood with oil does not make it unpleasant to the touch. The item retains its original texture (unlike lacquered wood).
3. The oil gives the coating a soft sheen that will not fade over time as the coating will not crack.
4. Impregnation of wood with linseed oil will perfectly protect it from moisture and decay. The oil clogs the smallest pores into which water can no longer seep.

Impregnation of wood with oil is a long process, but the effect is worth it! And by the way, the alternative linseed oil hemp stands out.