The course of the painting

Priming: Prime with the paint thinned with about 10% turpentine. Outdoors, special primer, so-called zinc white primer, is required for light colors.

Intermediate coat: Intermediate coat with the paint thinned with 5% turpentine.

The final coat is applied with undiluted paint. If you want to avoid gloss in the paint, you can also thin the final coating with about 5% turpentine.

Suitable painting weather: Paint in temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius. At lower temperatures the paint dries slowly and easily becomes too thick. The moisture content of the wood should be below 15%. Do not paint in direct sunlight.

Drying time: Dries indoors after one day, overpaintable after two. Dries outdoors after two days, can be painted over after three. If the paint has not dried within this time, it is probably too thick. Desiccant can be added to halve the drying time.

Equipment: Linseed oil paint is applied with a round, stiff and dense natural bristle brush. The paint is “smoothed” with a flat paintbrush. Do not roll. Do not spray.

Brush washing: Wash in turpentine, then in linseed oil soap and water. Save on washing by storing used brushes in boiled linseed oil instead.

Storage: Almost unlimited storage time in a well-filled jar. Place the jar upside down to prevent air from entering. Store in a cool place. Can withstand frost. Stir well, as some pigments sink and a sediment forms.

Durability: Indoors in principle unlimited. Outdoors 10-20 years or longer, depending on the surface, environment, etc. The paint chalks in the long term, which means that you do not need mechanical paint removal before repainting.

Glaze: The paint can be used as a glaze on clean wooden surfaces indoors and outdoors, if diluted with 1/3 linseed oil and 1/3 turpentine. As a base, a half-oil of 50% boiled linseed oil and 50% turpentine is recommended.

Tips! Many people paint linseed oil paint too thickly and with brushes that are too thin. This causes the paint to run, wrinkle and have difficulty drying. So paint thinly and with good brushes! Lots of other good advice and tips for painting with linseed oil paint can be found in the Center for Building Care’s handbook “Spare parts for old houses”. Also guide to cultural-historical coloring.

NOTE! Cloths soaked in linseed oil paint can catch fire. Therefore, put them in water or burn them.