I have never applied boiled linseed oil before but decided to try it on the drawer boxes I made for some end tables. It is birch plywood with a heat activated edge banding, oak plywood for the drawer bottoms. It went on nicely and I can still smell it a day later.
Do I need to use a polyurethane for protection or is the BLO a protective coating?
Replies
BLO has virtually no protective qualities and both water and water vapor pass directly through it. It's fine to use to color the wood but it you need some protection, a film finish is required. You can apply a varnish after letting the BLO dry for 2-4 days.
You should also be aware that both BLO and any oil based finish you apply will off gas almost forever. It is not a good idea to use an oil or oil based finish on the inside of drawers or cabinets as the odor will be there forever. For that reason, you may want to use a shellac finish which will tend of hide the odor. But, wait 5-7 days for the BLO to cure first.
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