Natural wood remains one of the most environmentally friendly and beautiful materials used in the construction and decoration of premises, the production of furniture, decor items, and kitchen utensils. Wooden floors, window frames, doors, wall panels not only add color to the interior, but also maintain a cozy atmosphere and create a healthy microclimate. However, natural raw materials have an important drawback - high hydrophilicity, that is, the ability to absorb liquids. Some time after use, untreated wood swells, darkens, and crumbles under the influence of accumulated moisture.
Oil properties
To preserve the quality of wooden products for as long as possible, special impregnating agents are used that create an external protective coating. Natural oil formulations in this regard have several advantages, since they do not harm health. Flaxseed oil for wood impregnation is considered one of the best. It contains a high content of linoleic acid, which promotes polymerization — oxidation in air and the conversion of a substance to a semi-solid state. When applying a natural plant composition to the surface, several goals are achieved:
- wood becomes protected from moisture, damage by fungi, cracking, darkening, premature rot, acquires moisture and dirt-repellent properties;
- emphasizes the natural structure of the material;
- camouflages minor defects of products: roughness, scratches;
- the appearance of wood improves: the color evens out, a soft shine appears;
- extended service life of materials;
- the ability of the tree to exchange air is maintained;
- there is no unpleasant chemical smell characteristic of most synthetic impregnations; there is no danger of intoxication.
Processing linseed oil of wooden products is absolutely harmless to people and animals, can be used on any surface, including children's toys, chopping kitchen boards, countertops, spoons, bowls. You can use this coating for any wood species: yew, birch, oak, pine, spruce. Oil for wood acts as an antiseptic, suitable as an independent or intermediate coating, if in the future it is required to apply paint or varnish.
Used technologies
For technical purposes, it is permissible to use a raw food product without additives obtained by cold or hot pressing. But this composition has a drawback: it dries very slowly, each subsequent layer must be applied 5-7 days after the previous one. For a long time, processed products leave greasy spots when touched. It will be necessary to update the resulting coverage quite often - 4–5 times a year, which is not very practical. In addition, the light wood after it turns yellow or darkens under the influence of sunlight. It is better to use such impregnation for small details: wall or floor decor, flowerpots, spoons, wooden crafts, toys. It is more useful to cover floors, stairs, benches, doors, shelves, ceiling beams, log houses and other massive elements with specially treated oil - drying oil of industrial or home production with wax or synthetic polyurethane additives that accelerate drying. Such tools speed up and facilitate the work, help to achieve better results, reduce further abrasion of the surface. Updating the coverage is required 1-2 times a year.
In addition, pigmented impregnations based on linseed oil are produced, with which you can completely change the old damaged wood, giving it an aesthetic appearance.
Material processing involves several methods:
- vacuum impregnation - this technology is applicable only in industrial conditions, as it requires special equipment and certain skills;
- soaking - suitable for small items that are lowered into the heated composition for several hours, then removed and dried;
- layer-by-layer application with a roller, brush, sponge - this way it is possible to impregnate prepared surfaces of various sizes, this method is considered universal for all types of wooden materials and finishes.
It is important to remember that pure linseed oil is not suitable for external work, as it does not create an impermeable, stable film on the surface. The coating made with its help has more decorative than practical value, and in the open air it quickly collapses under the influence of the sun, wind and rains. To increase stability, turpentine, polymers and other components are added to natural vegetable fat.
Manufacturer, brand | Volume l | Price, rub |
Sigma Color | 1 | 600 |
Commoner | 3 | 235 |
Zar wood stain | 0,236 | 550 |
Incom Torg LLC Altai Flax | 0,5 | 187 |
Wood impregnation at home
Impregnating linseed oil formulations are easy to make at home. The easiest way is to boil it twice. The portion needed for one application is heated in a water bath until it boils, then it is cooled and boiled again. As a result of heating, unstable impurities are destroyed. When refining crude oil, hydrofiltration is sometimes used: it is combined before boiling with water, and then filtered.
To ensure smoothness of the coating, extending the period of validity and increasing water-repellent properties, beeswax can be added to home drying oil. If thick mastic is required, oil and wax are taken in a ratio of 1: 1, for liquid impregnation - 2: 1.
The bee product for wood processing is pre-crushed and combined with fat when heated, after melting, mixed until completely homogeneous. The composition remaining after the work is stored in a cool place in a hermetically sealed container, if necessary, heated.
When immersed in wood, a temperature of 60 ° C is poured into a steel or enameled container and the products are soaked in it for 2-3 hours. Then they are removed, the remaining oil is blotted with a soft cloth or paper and the objects are dried for 2-4 days. Finished surfaces are polished with suede to shine or varnished as desired.
Layer-by-layer application requires more effort and lasts longer.
To work, you will need:
- oil mixture;
- fine sanding paper;
- sponge, brush or roller;
- clean rag rags;
- a piece of suede.
Fresh boards are carefully dried before processing, moisture in them should be no more than 15%. Impregnation is performed in a dry room or outdoors in clear weather. All work is done with gloves.
- The material is sanded, smoothing irregularities, cleaned of sawdust and wiped with a dry cloth.
- Heated to + 60–70 ° С the composition is applied along the fibers with a brush or other convenient tool. Dry porous wood absorbs hot oil with almost no residue; therefore, after the first application, it is usually required to reapply after 10-15 minutes. Oil must be gently rubbed into the finely porous material so that it does not flow and is evenly distributed over the surface. Stop work after the board begins to shine varnished lacquer.
- The oil-coated boards are left alone for another 30 minutes, then the remainder of the composition is removed with a sponge, and the wood is left to dry. For drying oil, this period averages 24 hours. If natural linseed oil without additives is used, drying can take more than 3 days.
- The products are coated with the second layer after the previous one has completely dried. The procedure is carried out similarly. Depending on the type of wood, it is necessary to apply not 2, but more repeated layers with a period of several days in order to achieve a dense uniform outer layer.
- When the wood is completely ready and becomes dry, it is polished with suede, achieving an even shine.
You can check the quality of the coating by applying a couple of drops of water to the surface. If after a few minutes the moisture remains in place, the wood is impregnated well.
Flaxseed oil penetrates into the depth of the tree by 2-3 mm, which allows it to provide sufficient protective properties for several months. Impregnation can be updated at any time after the coating ceases to fulfill its functions and begins to deteriorate.
At the end of the work, all used materials - brushes, sponges, rags - must immediately be soaked in water, and rags and paper should be destroyed. Flaxseed oil is easily oxidized in air and can cause spontaneous combustion.