Using 50/50 BLO and Turpentine

[ptf18]

Im using a 50/50 mix of BLO and Turpentine on a stock. Does the first coat I apply "melt" in with the 2nd coat I apply? Or is the 2nd coat just another "layer" on the 1st?

Im leaving the coats "dry" for 2 days before I apply another.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Does the first coat I apply "melt" in with the 2nd coat I apply?

Yes. But I doubt that you need a 50/50 mix. That would be more suitable for a first application on raw wood. I just moisten a piece of linen rag with turpentine and put drops of linseed oil onto that - effectively using a technique similar to French (shellac) polishing. You just need enough to soften the older layer and help the new application to bond - you don't want to wash off the previous layer! Although, of course, these are not really layers, just successive applications.

And the more layers you apply, the longer you need to wait before further application. Two days is cutting it very short. A week would be better. If you find you are getting a sticky mess that seems to take forever to dry, try wiping and polishing with just the turpentine moistened rag, with no oil, the turpentine will then help the oil to soak into the wood.

Finally, there is no magic mix - you have to pragmatically adjust the oil/turpentine to suit the present state of the surface.

[VinnAY]

I think that I've gotten my best results by experimenting with the ratios but the thing Ive experienced most is to not let it dry to a tacky mess. I rub it in with steel wool 0000 and like they used to teach us in boot camp, buff it with the same applicator until near dry and then I use a clean rag to wipe it dry. 24-48hrs later I buff it with a dry steel wool, then repeat the application. I try harder on tables and such for smoothness and shine but rifle stocks I never sand, etc.., just apply with rag. On a rifle I've just gotten and post cleaning I'll scrub it with steel wool and 50/50 mix on time.

[Johnny Peppers]

ptf18,

You didn't mention the condition of the wood before you started applying the 50/50. It can either be used to lightly clean an original stock, or to finish a stock that has been stripped. Either way, I start with a heavy coat, let it set 30 minutes or so, then wipe everything back off with toweling. This will leave a very thin coat on the wood which will usually dry in 24 hours unless really high humidity. After that apply extremely thin coats to control the build up. I put a dot of the 50/50 on the stock, and then rub it until it will spread no farther. Repeat this until you have covered the stock. On "refreshing" an original stock that has become very dry, only one coat may be needed, but by controlling how much you apply each time you will be able to control the build up. The original military stocks did not have a built up finish, so don't apply too many coats.

The 50/50 mix smells like turpentine when you apply it, but that scent evaporates and you are left with the nice linseed oil smell.