question on BLO

[triw51]

1st does boiled linseed oil go bad? I was given a gallon can about a year ago (not sure how long he had it). I used up the smaller can I had then when I used the "new" oil it was thicher almost like gear oil. Does not have an off smell any ideas?
2nd question: What rodent will eat BLO? I noticed the plastice squeeze bottle I use for my BLO had gnaw markes where the oil dripped down the noozle and pooled around the cap. Never seen that before.
Thanks William

 

[Russknan]

Can't help you in any way that would be useful to you. Sorry, I don't know. However, I wanted to observe that the "oil" in BLO might keep your mice from squeaking now! ;-P
Russ

 

[Ed McDonnell]

Based on my experience: If you can pour it, and it does what you need it to do, then it's probably OK. You might try it on some scrap first though.

Things that can have gone wrong:

Stuff will grow in BLO (don't shake or stir the can). That could have done something to it.

BLO has metal driers added to accelerate the cure. This will cause it to thicken in the can over time, but I would expect that to take a long time (many years). The metal drying agents added to the BLO may not be as effective as they were when the can was fresh. This could leave whatever you apply it to tacky for a long time.

If the person you got it from used it to soak wood turnings (ex. Norfolk Island Pine) then it could be all kinds of bad by now and should be tossed.

I would just get a new can, but you could try thinning it with turpentine if you want it thinner (just thin what you are going to use, not the whole can) and there are no jello lumps in it.

As far as the rodent gnawing, what won't a rat / mouse eat? They would likely die of natural causes long before the metal driers in the BLO killed them. Would be the opposite for you if you drank any. :biggrin:

Other more experienced people may have a different opinion, but that's the way I see it.

Ed

 

[Jim Burr]

It's an oil from a legume...it will go bad. But if it serves the purpose, say for canoe paddle handles (my usual go to)...who cares?!

 

[low_48]

It's an oil from a legume...it will go bad. But if it serves the purpose, say for canoe paddle handles (my usual go to)...who cares?!

Linseed is a legume? Don't think so. Flax (also known as common flax or linseed), with the binomial name: Linum usitatissimum, is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. A legume (/ˈlɛɡjuːm/ or /ˌləˈɡjuːm/) is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. Not a botanist, but it doesn't seem to match.