Axel_in_Courtenay
08-29-2006, 09:51 AM
Red oak is a very common type of wood that allot of projects are made from. The last thing that any woodworker wants to do is ruin their creation by applying the finishes they intend to use improperly. For this we want to take a look at a few different characteristics that red oak has.
The pores of red oak are very open and straw like masses that actually act like straws. These pores can be continuously open for 8-10 inches in length making red oak one of the most porous woods there is. Often times people notice bubbles and other issues around open grain areas when trying to apply a finish to this particular species of wood.
Applying BLO has long been a traditional method for finishing wood and in popping out the colour tones and figure in the grain of the wood. This is often a desired look when working with oak that is regular or quarter sawn. There are a few things that you’ll need to do to prepare you project before you start to apply BLO..
For this project we will assume that we are doing a tight finish that does not fill the grain. I recommend that you practice this method on some scraps to see exactly how your wood will behave. Every area has different lumber; moisture content, grain porosity and other factors that help make wood unique.
Required Items:
Double boiled linseed oil
Several clean white cotton rags
3” flat bristle brush
220g stearate free aluminum oxide paper
Schedule:
- Sand it all back 220g
- Remove all the dust and contamination from the project
- Apply a liberal coat of BLO to the project using the brush
- Don’t worry about putting it on to thick as you need to let it penetrate for about 15-30 minutes.
- 15 minutes after you’re done wipe it all off in a circular motion in the same order as it was applied
- Wait another 15 minutes and repeat the wiping process
- Now wait for 30 minutes and wipe it for the final time
- Check back 15 minutes later to make sure no excess oil is coming out of the pores
*** STORE ALL RAGS IN A BUCKET FILLED WITH WATER***
Rags with linseed oil can spontaneously combust very easily and they must be stored fully submerged in water. I have friends that have burn down their shops with BLO & solvent covered rags..
The multiple wipings are due to the nature of the red oak that I had mentioned. The straw like pores absorb a large amount of BLO and release it slowly. The BLO will keep oozing out of the pores for up to an hour after the initial application. Once this is done you are ready to let the piece cure for the next stages of your finishing schedule. BLO will need to cure for a minimum of 72 hours before you can apply any kind of shellac or varnish or attempt to stain the surface.
The best finish over top of BLO is in my opinion wiping varnish..
The pores of red oak are very open and straw like masses that actually act like straws. These pores can be continuously open for 8-10 inches in length making red oak one of the most porous woods there is. Often times people notice bubbles and other issues around open grain areas when trying to apply a finish to this particular species of wood.
Applying BLO has long been a traditional method for finishing wood and in popping out the colour tones and figure in the grain of the wood. This is often a desired look when working with oak that is regular or quarter sawn. There are a few things that you’ll need to do to prepare you project before you start to apply BLO..
For this project we will assume that we are doing a tight finish that does not fill the grain. I recommend that you practice this method on some scraps to see exactly how your wood will behave. Every area has different lumber; moisture content, grain porosity and other factors that help make wood unique.
Required Items:
Double boiled linseed oil
Several clean white cotton rags
3” flat bristle brush
220g stearate free aluminum oxide paper
Schedule:
- Sand it all back 220g
- Remove all the dust and contamination from the project
- Apply a liberal coat of BLO to the project using the brush
- Don’t worry about putting it on to thick as you need to let it penetrate for about 15-30 minutes.
- 15 minutes after you’re done wipe it all off in a circular motion in the same order as it was applied
- Wait another 15 minutes and repeat the wiping process
- Now wait for 30 minutes and wipe it for the final time
- Check back 15 minutes later to make sure no excess oil is coming out of the pores
*** STORE ALL RAGS IN A BUCKET FILLED WITH WATER***
Rags with linseed oil can spontaneously combust very easily and they must be stored fully submerged in water. I have friends that have burn down their shops with BLO & solvent covered rags..
The multiple wipings are due to the nature of the red oak that I had mentioned. The straw like pores absorb a large amount of BLO and release it slowly. The BLO will keep oozing out of the pores for up to an hour after the initial application. Once this is done you are ready to let the piece cure for the next stages of your finishing schedule. BLO will need to cure for a minimum of 72 hours before you can apply any kind of shellac or varnish or attempt to stain the surface.
The best finish over top of BLO is in my opinion wiping varnish..