Do you want to know about a more refined, suitable finish, and eco-friendly for your wooden adored furniture? The one finish which will protect your wood from damage. Furthermore, the one that won’t contain any toxic chemicals?
Polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer has plastic materials or preservatives to make the finish more durable. However, flaxseed oil or linseed oil finish comes from a natural product.
Linseed oil is extracted from flax seeds. Therefore, it can also be called flaxseed oil. This unit serves the purpose of being a helpful and natural finish for your wood.
Let’s dive into if the Flaxseed oil wood finish is perfect for your wood or not and hear our insights on this matter.
What is Flaxseed Oil? – Explained
Before knowing whether you can use flaxseed oil on your wood, you have to know the features and facts about this one. So let’s take some time to learn a bit about flaxseed oil, shall we?
Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil, comes from the seeds of the flax plant. The edible form is called pure flaxseed. In contrast, the wood finish is often called linseed oil.
There is no significant difference between linseed and flaxseed oil. Thus, this product can be called linseed oil as well.
Flaxseed oil can adhere. It can dry and become a solid form to attach to the wood. Therefore, it can stick to the other finishes and works as an excellent finish.
One of the main attributes of this oil is its environmentally friendly and non-toxic nature. In addition, this finish doesn’t contain any hazardous materials.
Flaxseed oil can dive deep into the wood and make the wood stronger. Also, it protects the wood from harm and damage.
You can comfortably sand away the scratches using a clean brush. Flaxseed oil finish produces a vivid and smooth texture on your wood.
However, there are some downsides to this product. First, flaxseed oil or raw linseed oil takes weeks to cure on wood. Thus, you have to give a great deal of your time to apply this finish.
Why Should You Use Flaxseed Oil On Your Wood?
You already gained information about the features of flaxseed oil. Next, you may ask why flaxseed oil will be the best choice for your wood.
We will look into why you can apply this oil and also the opposite side of the coin. So stay with us patiently to hear our research.
Benefits
When the flaxseed oil is applied to your wood, it penetrates your wood. As a result, the oil gets hardened, producing a more substantial layer for your wood.
It also shows off the raw beauty of your wood as the oil produces a polished surface. So if you want to bring the glazing and shiny look to your wood, this product can be a better option for you.
Don’t worry if you have already applied one like bar top finish. Flaxseed oil can adhere to any other finish. So you can still smoothly apply flaxseed oil to your wood.
Additionally, flaxseed oil is cheap compared to other synthetic finish products.
You can apply thin coats of flaxseed oil multiple times. Yet, the wood won’t look flashy or excessive.
Drawbacks
We looked over the benefits of flaxseed oil. However, there are some cons to using flaxseed oil on your wood. Let’s look into it quickly.
Drying Time
Flaxseed oil often takes ages to cure. If one coat is too thick, then it won’t dry. Furthermore, if the temperature is low, then the oil will take forever to dry.
You know you can’t control the weather! Therefore, whatever you do, flaxseed requires a lot of time and effort from you.
Difficult to Separate
You know, multiple layers of flaxseed oil are needed on your wood. If you want to refinish your wood, it might be tough to remove the flaxseed oil finish from your wood.
Mildew Food
Flaxseed oil is one kind of vegetable oil. Mildew’s food products are also vegetable oil.
Hence, mildew can grow on your wood if you apply a flaxseed oil finish. This is because flaxseed oil encourages the mildew to grow.
Not Suitable For Outdoor Furniture
The flaxseed oil finish is not as durable as the other finishes. This oil requires high maintenance.
Waxing outdoor furniture frequently can be a challenging project for you. Thus, applying other low-maintenance finishes on your outdoor wooden material is suggested.
How To Apply Flaxseed Oil Wood Finish – 7 Effective Steps
Let’s assume you choose to apply flaxseed oil as your wood finish despite the drawbacks.
Here, you’ll see some steps to look over when applying flaxseed oil to your wood.
1. Sand The Surface
Firstly, you have to sand the surface with grit sandpaper. Then, it is to secure the surface so that the oil can adhere to the wood.
Dust away to remove any dirt or excess oil. You can use a foam brush for this.
2. Apply The First Coat
It is recommended to use 2-3 coats of flaxseed oil on your wood. Apply the first coat of thin layer using a delicate cloth or clean brush.
You can measure the first coat by pouring the oil into a bowl. It will help you to avoid any wastage of oil.
Put every coat in every corner of your wood.
3. Wipe The Excess Oil Away
After 10-15 minutes, wipe away any excess oil. If you fail to do this step, the surface will become sticky.
4. Give Time To Cure
Flaxseed oil takes a great deal of time to dry. Hence, you should give enough time for the first coat to cure. It will usually take 12-24 hours. Then you can touch the surface and move on to the next step.
5. Sand The First Coat
You have to sand the first coat before applying the second coat. You can sand it with grit sanding paper. Sand it in the direction of the grain.
6. Apply The Second Coat
Repeat the first coat process to apply the second layer of coat. You should sand after the second coat is cured as well.
7. Apply The Final Coat
The coatings should be applied in the same process every time. However, after the final coat, you don’t have to sand. Instead, you can paint wax after the final coat is cured. It will add extra smoothness to your wood.
How Dangerous Is Flaxseed Oil Finish?
In recent research, it has been found that flaxseed oil can cause a fire hazard. If flaxseed oil is combined with oxygen, it can create heat. Thus, it results in flames.
You should take a few safety measures if you choose to use a flaxseed oil finish.
Safety Measures To Take
- Always keep the oil in the container. The oil cannot mix with oxygen in a container. Thus it won’t burst into flames. You can also reuse it if you store the oil.
- Wear full protective clothes and eye goggles to secure yourself if any uncertainties occur.
- Clean yourself if you get contaminated. Don’t panic. Soap and water help you from being contaminated.
- Keep the flaxseed oil away from children.
Final Words
Before we conclude, it’s your choice whether you will apply Flaxseed oil wood finish or not.
If you want an environment-friendly finish that will bring out your wood’s raw beauty, flaxseed oil is the better option for you.
However, the downside of choosing this product is it takes a massive amount of time to dry. Additionally, it may not be safe to use for all the furniture. Therefore, you need to take several safety measures before applying flaxseed oil.
Always follow the instructions given on the product beforehand. Then, make the decisions based on your expectations from your wood.
