Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Linseed Oil Applied

The outside of the hull with the linseed oil mixture. Note how the brass clenching nails shine after they got lightly sanded with the hull!

A BIG difference between the older (55 year old wood) and the new ribs and planks. I did not realize the oil would make the lighter wood turn dark. But...its OK!


Close up of the two woods after the oil was applied



My home brew...one part linseed oil and one part turpentine being heated over our stove. Joy just rolls her eyes. I am used to it!

50% turpentine and 50% boiled linseed oil. That's it. Now put it in a double boiler then brush it on the canoe. That was the next step and boy does it look different! I am a bit disappointed actually. I had hoped the canoe would retain the light colored look but the oil mixture actually darkened the wood and shows every gouge, sanding mark and cross-grain scrape. I hope once it fully soaks in and dries out I can go back and try to clean some of that up. If I had know it was going to be darker I would have only oiled the outside hull.

Oh well! She is STILL a beauty! I used just under a gallon of the mixture and saturated the wood on both the inside and outside. It will probably be dried by the first or second week of May. Until then I have to prepare my canvas stretching system and give it a test run.

2 comments:

Royce Ferguson said...

Actually, in my opinion that contrast in wood color shows the history, effort, "vintage," etc. of the canoe. It makes it seems really a labor of love, not mass produced-- like you really did "save" the canoe. Good job.

Royce Ferguson said...

Actually, that contrast in wood looks cool-- it shows that some real work went into restoring the wood (in my opinion). It adds to the "vintage" and history. Good job.