oiling worktops

[Yvonne]

Has anyone experience of oiling the blockwood type worktops?

I am in the process of sanding and oiling our new worktops with linseed oil. The bottle advises diluting the oil with 30% white spirit and then adding a 'siccatif' to speed up drying.

What is a 'siccatif'?? How long should the oil mix take to dry? Do I remove excess? How many coats are considered sufficient for new worktops to be usable / watertight??

Thanks for any advise.

Abi [:)] 

[clarksinfrance]

I can't remember if Linseed oil is "safe" to use on wooden worksurfaces used for food. I seem to remember we used an oil specifically for the job, which we purchased from Ikea, which was deemed safe for food prep surfaces.

http://www.ikea.com/fr/fr/catalog/products/50070378

It is quite cheap, but you may not have an Ikea near you.

Sorry am unable to help with siccatif.

[Dave&Olive]

hi ok

              linseed oil is safe to use for food use , but mix it with pure turpentine (not the subs stuff )and not white spirit ,siccatif is just a hardener/ rapid dryer you can get it from the local brico`s , mr bricolage does it , but make sure you get the lead free one for food use i.e. sans plomb

          Dave

[retread]

Save the effort, use 'huile plan de travail' I bought mine from Leroy-Merlin but should be available elsewhere. Safe for food, washable, dries in 2 hours, good heat resistance and gives a mat finish. Looks great on our Hetre and Chene surfaces

[Bobbykins]

Hi, the proper thing to use is Danish Oil, wipe it all over and leave to soak in for a while then wipe of with a soft dry cloth and then repeat about 2 weeks later and then redo about once a year. Bob.

[Chris Head]

There are lots of different methods and products available...Danish, finishing; hard wax & tung oils are all OK. You get out what you put into the wood...certainly three coats minimum, first coat thinned for penetration & key for following coats, then subsequent coats applied as per wot it says on the tin! Last coat can be gently 'cut back' with fine wire wool. I presume the surfaces aren't to be used for direct food prep?

[Scooby]

[quote user="Bobbykins"]Hi, the proper thing to use is Danish Oil, wipe it all over and leave to soak in for a while then wipe of with a soft dry cloth and then repeat about 2 weeks later and then redo about once a year. Bob.[/quote]

That's what we did but we did about six or so coats (probably overkill but then you haven't seen how far my lads can splash water LOL)

[retread]

[quote user="Bobbykins"]Hi, the proper thing to use is Danish Oil, wipe it all over and leave to soak in for a while then wipe of with a soft dry cloth and then repeat about 2 weeks later and then redo about once a year. Bob.[/quote]

Yes OK but can you let me have a source for danish oil in Dordogne?

The Huile plan de travail goes on the same, has the same effect and smells right.

 

[Scooby]

We bought ours from UK but found this supplier on e-bay that ships to France....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rustins-Danish-Oil---500ml_W0QQitemZ300173842929QQcmdZViewItem

Linseed oil on its own didn't work for us - any water on the surface and we were left with horrible marks.  I think Danish oil is a mixture of linseed and tung oil and (I think) the tung oil gives the water / alcohol proof properties - like a shellac finish.  I think some people recommend linseed oil followed by coats of tung oil to get the same effect - but I'm no expert on this.  Danish oil certainly did the trick for us.