Linseed oil impregnation of wood products. Features of the use of linseed oil for wood protection Linseed oil for wood for interior work

wooden structures made from natural material. This is a favorable environment for the life of organisms, especially when placed outdoors. Therefore, wood products require careful treatment against destruction caused by fungi (mold), bacteria (rot), insects (mechanical destruction). Yes, and in the room impregnation is not superfluous. For example, in the kitchen, the humidity is quite high, which destroys the wood. Oil is an effective method to combat external influences on wood.

Owners of private wooden houses know that the main property of oil impregnation is to increase the service life of the walls, giving them strength. Moreover, any oil is a natural antiseptic to a greater or lesser extent. It kills bacteria on the surface, making it cleaner and more elastic.

There is a large selection of wood impregnation oils on the market.. They can be divided into two large groups - mineral and natural. Let's consider them in more detail.

mineral

They have gained great popularity not so long ago in connection with the active scientific and technological development. Then it became possible to create mineral oil with the required characteristics. About 50 years ago transformer oil began to be used for the purpose of wood processing. Of course, this is not its direct purpose. The result proved the opposite, which brought the sales of transformer oil to a new level. With the help of it, it is possible to prevent the putrefactive processes of the tree, while maintaining the primary appearance. Undoubtedly, the production of this product violates environmental standards. Therefore, more and more enterprises prefer natural oils or at least combine them with mineral ones.

natural

Natural oils appeared much earlier than mineral ones. It took time to realize their merits in wood processing. The spread of natural oils was held back by the high cost of raw materials. However, modern production methods solve this issue.

Their key advantage is vegetable origin. Natural components, the absence of harmful compounds make natural oil safe for humans. The most common types of natural oils for impregnation of wood products:

1. Wood oil. One of the very first products to protect wood from rot, water and termites. Suitable for impregnation of floor and ceiling finishes, wooden furniture, architraves and dishes.
2. Teak oil. A universal product suitable for impregnating both internal surfaces made of wood (floor, ceiling, decor, stairs, railings) and external surfaces (facades, gazebos, furniture and garden figurines). The best choice for oak, beech and other valuable wood species. Ingredients: tung and linseed oils, refined turpentine.
3. Tar oil. It has pronounced antiseptic properties. Ingredients: stump resin, turpentine, linseed oil. Turpentine helps to better impregnate the material. Linseed oil stops the composition inside. Widespread in the judiciary. They process the bottom of boats and moorings. Suitable for exterior treatment.
4. Deservedly considered the most inexpensive and effective means of protecting wooden surfaces. Linseed oil It has a high hydrophobic ability, so it fights dampness very well. Particles penetrate into every pore of the material, emphasizing the structure and "preserving" it. Suitable for processing indoor and outdoor structures.
5. Tonic oil (toning). This type of oil is produced on the basis of condensed vegetable lipids, which restore the natural grace of the tree and protect it from destruction. It will be possible to avoid such problems as fading, cracks, drying out. More suitable for outdoor use, as the composition deeply penetrates the wood, literally repelling dirt.

Advantages and disadvantages of different types of oils

We found out that oils are used for one purpose - to increase the period of use. They have, although not much, but different properties. For example, one species has better water resistance, another copes well with dust, etc. We list the pros and cons of each oil.

Impregnation procedure and conditions

The most common method is rubbing into the surface. It is suitable for linseed, mineral oil. You need to rub the oil into the wood with sandpaper (P400) and a cloth napkin. The procedure should be carried out 3-4 times. After each use, the oil should be absorbed, i.e. surface is dry. This will take 3-8 days. A rag is needed for the initial application, as well as in the final stage - grinding. In exchange for long processing, you will get excellent results.

The second way is smearing. It is used only when the tree will be further covered with paint. The oil is applied with a regular brush. It is important that it be drying oil, for example, linen. Then the surface is leveled with a beige pad or cotton cloth.

The last 2 methods are boiling and soaking. For technical reasons, they are suitable only for small items: pens, toys. For soaking in a pan, you need to place the product and leave it for a couple of days in a closed state. After that, polish with a cloth napkin to a shine.

You can boil, then the time is reduced to 1 day. Digestion is carried out over low heat at a certain temperature, depending on the oil (see table below).

The nuances of impregnation

Before starting work, you need to prepare the tree. The first thing to do is check the moisture content of the wood. Better to keep it as dry as possible. Ideally, no more than 15-20% of water.

After preparation, a color test is carried out. An oil solution is applied to a small area of ​​the surface, after which the resulting color is evaluated, which depends on:

• tree species;
• the degree of its polishing;
• layer density.

Some companies, specializing in the production of tinting oils, offer samplers, giving the opportunity to know in advance what shade the product will acquire.

Pine, birch, fir - wood that requires the application of a special alkaline solution before oil treatment. This is done so that in the future the structure of the tree does not darken.

The application itself (if you have chosen the smearing method) goes in the direction of the fibers. It is better to collect excess oil in different places. Next, the wood is polished and left for some time, depending on the chosen method of impregnation. By the way, much less oil composition will go to pre-sanded wood.

Impregnation of wood with oil is needed for street structures made of wood. When decorating the walls of the house, you can’t do without it either. It increases the declared operational life of wood. Don't make silly mistakes, such as opting for mineral oil to impregnate furniture because it's not environmentally friendly. The correct selection of oil depends on the placement of the product (outdoors, indoors) and the material (wood species).

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.

Today, the market offers a huge selection of oils of 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 allow the production of artificial materials with desired 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 of innovative technologies, artificial refined products have become 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 thanks to the adoption of modern production technologies.

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 loses to the former in terms of quality.

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 a large surface. A wooden board is 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 work. It will help preserve the life of the 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.

Oil treatment of wood is a traditional way of caring for wooden surfaces. Oil compositions ensure the safety of the material for many years of operation, give the surface hydrophobic properties and protect against the development of all kinds of adverse processes. However, oil treatment is not such a simple operation as it seems at first glance. The application of oil products to wood has its own characteristics, without knowing which, you can get a completely opposite result and spoil the coating. In this review, we will focus on how to apply oil on wood, what subtleties and nuances exist in this work.

The most common oils used for wood processing:

• tung;
• teak;
• tar;
• linen.

Each of the oils presented has its own characteristics, a brief overview of all products is given in the article. Here we will focus on the criteria for choosing an oil, and also consider the best way to cover a tree in a particular case.

1. The most popular of these products is flaxseed oil. It is versatile and can be used both outside and inside the house. Linen impregnation is great for wet rooms, because. has good hydrophobic properties. The oil dries long enough, up to three weeks, to speed up the process, wax is added to it. At negative temperatures, the oil becomes solid, which complicates the processing of external surfaces.
2. Tar oil is ideal for processing the facades of log and timber houses. It perfectly withstands all weather conditions and is resistant to sub-zero temperatures. In addition, it is one of the best natural antiseptics, and protects external surfaces from decay. It is undesirable to use tar impregnation indoors, since it contains turpentine.
3. Teak oil is suitable for impregnating any surface, it provides effective protection against moisture, UV radiation and other adverse factors. This tool is also used to cover expensive wood species.
4. Tung oil is intended for the treatment of internal surfaces. It differs from other types of oils in a higher drying rate. The oil creates a durable film that has a high water-repellent effect. Very often used for the restoration of antiques.

All the above oils are natural products, their use does not cause any adverse effects on humans. Today, mineral oil, which is based on petroleum products, is often used for surface treatment.

Manufacturers claim that synthetics are safe and can be used to treat interiors. However, this is not the case, synthetic additives are released into the atmosphere and are harmful to health. Therefore, the use of artificial oils is permissible only outside, and only if the product has undergone deep cleaning.

The choice of oil according to the type of wood

When choosing a particular oil, you should always consider the wood species. To determine how the oiled surface will look, it is necessary to test on a small section.

1. Conifers contain resins that prevent the penetration of oil into the structure, so they do not need oil impregnation. To protect the surface, in case of emergency, you can use thick compositions in one layer or process the tree of this species by waxing.
2. For low density wood, alder and linden, it is also better to use thick saturated impregnations. The use of fluid compositions is undesirable, since with deep penetration, they remain inside in a liquid state.
3. Beech and birch are characterized by high density, and therefore, they are first treated with liquid compositions, and then with thicker ones, which have a high degree of solids, and wax.

What can dilute the oil

To improve one or another characteristic of the oil, various components are added to it. For example, to increase the absorbency of tung oil, it is diluted by 40% with white spirit.

To increase the drying rate of linseed oil, it is mixed with turpentine in a ratio (70:30) and then heated. However, it should be noted that turpentine is toxic and has a pungent odor, so this composition can only be used for external processing. Tar is less toxic and can also be added to oil to speed up the drying process.

To impregnate wooden surfaces inside the house, wax is added to the oil. It increases the water-repellent and antistatic properties of the surface and accelerates the process of solidification of the oil composition.

If you want to change the color of the wood or get a more saturated shade, you can tint the oil with pigments. Tinting allows you to ennoble the look of a wooden house, painting it in natural tones of more valuable tree species.

If you want to give the house an unnatural color for a tree (red, green, blue), oil paints or casein-oil tempera are added to the impregnation. You can also dilute the oil with gouache, but in this case, mixing must be done hot to remove excess liquid from the paint.

Oil application technologies

There are three ways to paint wood with oil:

1. Vacuum impregnation. This technique is commonly used in industrial settings. Such processing requires special equipment, so it is impossible to cover the surface using this technology on your own.
2. Soaking. The method consists in placing the tree in heated oil, soaking for a certain time, and then drying it. In this way, only small wooden products can be painted.
3. Layer coating. This technology is the most common. It is used for processing wooden surfaces of different sizes. This method is discussed in detail below.

Preparatory work

Properly preparing the surface is 80% of success in this work. Oil is very strongly absorbed and under it it is impossible to hide defects. Any scuffs, scratches, bumps after applying the oil will remain noticeable. Therefore, the main task here is to bring the surface to an ideal state.

It is quite difficult to do this manually, it is advisable to use professional equipment for this - grinders, polishing pads. If there are no special tools, you can do the work yourself, but of course, the appearance of the surface will be far from ideal.

So what needs to be done:

1. If you have to oil an old log house, first of all, remove the old coating. Paint or varnish is removed with a metal brush. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the wood itself. If it is not possible to clean off the coating in this way, you can heat it with a building hair dryer, when the paint bubbles, it can be removed with a spatula.
2. Then you need to carefully sand the wood. Professionals perform this operation using a grinder with circles of different grain sizes, which are selected based on the condition of the surface. For rough cleaning, nozzles No. 40-80 are used, for medium - No. 100-120, for polishing - No. 150-180. If there are no machines, you can grind manually with sandpaper of different fractions.
3. Before finishing polishing, all cracks and cracks must be repaired. It is necessary to putty with putty in the color of the wood so that the patches remain invisible after applying the oil.
4. After finishing the preparatory work, all dust must be removed with a construction vacuum cleaner. The remaining dust will also be visible after applying the oil, so do this work as carefully as possible.

Oil application instructions

Interior surface treatment

The oil can be applied cold or hot. Application rules are the same for both options. The difference is in the temperature of the oil impregnation. In the first case, room temperature oil is used, in the second case, the composition is heated to a temperature of 80 degrees before use. It is also necessary to warm the surface itself with a special thermal pad, since it will not work to soak a cold tree with hot oil, the product will not be able to be absorbed and will remain on the surface.

Regardless of the chosen method, you need to paint a tree with oil in stages:

1. First, the first layer of impregnation is applied. The oil is applied with a brush or cotton cloth in a thin layer and evenly distributed over the surface.
2. Remove excess oil immediately, if this is not done, the impregnation will dry out and form a crust, which will then be very difficult to remove. To remove excess oil, you need to wipe this place with a dry cloth. It is necessary to rub the impregnation until the rag collects the oil. If the oil is not absorbed and lies on the surface of the floor, you can take a rubber spatula and rake the excess into puddles with it, and then collect it with a rag.
3. Next, the surface is polished with a soft cloth. After that, all wet areas are wiped dry with a cotton cloth.
4. With a cold method of processing, the application of the second layer is started no earlier than 5 hours, in some cases it is necessary to wait up to 12 hours. It depends on the type of oil. The second treatment with hot oil can be done after 2-2.5 hours, because. it dries out much faster.
5. Re-processing is carried out similarly to the first, each layer must be polished. The number of coats depends on the condition of the surface, the wood species and the type of oil. Usually 2-3 layers are enough.

It takes two to three weeks for the surface to dry completely, the exact period depends on the combination of the factors listed above.

House treatment outside

Applying oil on the facade of a house made of timber and logs should be done in warm sunny weather. It is advisable to prime the surface before this. Let's take linseed oil as an example. If the treatment is carried out with oil from flax, it must first be cleaned of impurities, since under the influence of solar radiation the flax impregnation turns yellow.

Oil purification methods:

1. With normal saline solution. To achieve a good result, the oil must be washed at least 5-7 times.
2. By mixing the oil with lead salt and heating the composition to 60 degrees.
3. By adding ethanol.
4. Photooxidation. The oil is boiled with water, filtered and kept in the light.

Impregnation process:

1. We remove the old coating.
2. We grind the surface.
3. Remove dust with a vacuum cleaner.
4. With a brush with soft bristles, apply the first layer of oil-turpentine impregnation.
5. After drying, grind the surface and apply the oil again.
6. After the final drying, we process the tree a third time.

Conclusion

Oil is a product that is quite difficult to work with on your own. The slightest violation of technology and any inaccuracy immediately affect the quality of painting. All work must be done with the utmost care, especially when it comes to transparent composition. Perfect smoothness of polishing, a flat surface, the absence of defects are indispensable conditions for obtaining a beautiful and high-quality coating.

All these conditions are feasible when professionals get down to business. The Mater Srubov company is your reliable assistant in creating a high-quality and beautiful interior of a wooden house. High-level specialists will perform any finishing work inside and outside the log house. To apply, go to the section. There you will find all our coordinates.

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 stand-alone top coat, 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 raw oil and drying oil

When processing wooden products with 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 of 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. In the future, speaking about this type of finish, we will mean linseed drying oil.

Where is the best place to apply this finish?

Impregnation of wood with linseed oil does not provide a hard protective film that is resistant to scratches and abrasion. But this type of decorative finish is 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, it is appropriate to apply linseed oil to the surface of precious woods 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%. 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. Keep the oil evenly distributed on the surface to avoid staining.

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 is 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. Completely 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.

After impregnation with linseed oil, the wood darkens.

[ Click on photo
for increase ]