What is this thing called boiled linseed oil?
Q. What’s the difference between boiled linseed oil and raw linseed oil? I’d like to oil some of my wood furniture. M.M., Winchester A. In the good old days, linseed oil was actually boiled; now it’s a chemical process. Boiled linseed oil dries more completely and quickly than the raw, and forms a film on the surface. Raw oil almost never dries, and is more difficult to work with. An oiled finish is very handsome, gives a pleasant glow, is very smooth and protects the wood. Other oiled finishes use tung oil; there are brand names, such as Watco oil, and Danish oil, which is similar. Oil can …
