Neil
Fellow
Walter wasn't able to shed any light on the benefits of using BLO last time the subject was raised here. Sure rubbing a bit of blo on the pen makes it look great, some of that mprovement caused by actually cleaning the pen in addition to oiling the grain.
But when you put the CA on the pen you achieve the same anyway!
The use of BLO has become enshrined in penturning circles without any evidence as to the benefits. It has a large proportion of acid which suggests that it is an inhibitor and prolongs the set time for CA. Alkalis are the basis of the accelerant, baking soda being an excellent constituent of home made accelerators.
However, Boiled Linseed oil, is in the main, not actuallly boiled but a combination of solvents, oil and dryers.
The only evidence that I can find that suggests why BLO is used is that it was a reasonably cheap ingredient in any woodturners cupboard, and that putting it on the tissue before dropping the CA on to it and putting it on the blank, stopped the CA from leeching through the folds of paper and attaching the entire mess to ones digits. A fairly practical solution which has no bearing on the effects that BLO has on wood!
I will not comment on ways that are recommended, youtubed, or otherwise proliferated within woodturning circles as to the best way to apply the damn stuff, if you must, other than suggest that it is my opinion that they range from Obsessive compulsive disorder to a poor aptitude for origami with kitchen towel. If someone has the enthusiasm for cutting up kitchen towel into piles and putting twenty coats of the stuff on its time they did something else (as well) for a hobby as they clearly have too much time on their hands!!!
But when you put the CA on the pen you achieve the same anyway!
The use of BLO has become enshrined in penturning circles without any evidence as to the benefits. It has a large proportion of acid which suggests that it is an inhibitor and prolongs the set time for CA. Alkalis are the basis of the accelerant, baking soda being an excellent constituent of home made accelerators.
However, Boiled Linseed oil, is in the main, not actuallly boiled but a combination of solvents, oil and dryers.
The only evidence that I can find that suggests why BLO is used is that it was a reasonably cheap ingredient in any woodturners cupboard, and that putting it on the tissue before dropping the CA on to it and putting it on the blank, stopped the CA from leeching through the folds of paper and attaching the entire mess to ones digits. A fairly practical solution which has no bearing on the effects that BLO has on wood!
I will not comment on ways that are recommended, youtubed, or otherwise proliferated within woodturning circles as to the best way to apply the damn stuff, if you must, other than suggest that it is my opinion that they range from Obsessive compulsive disorder to a poor aptitude for origami with kitchen towel. If someone has the enthusiasm for cutting up kitchen towel into piles and putting twenty coats of the stuff on its time they did something else (as well) for a hobby as they clearly have too much time on their hands!!!
