Linseed oil shelf life?

[Robert Opalko]

I have an old can of boiled linseed oil, perhaps 3 years old? Does this stuff go bad, or is it ok to use for my current project? My typical finish is 1/3 turpentine, 1/3 linseed oil, 1/3 varnish mixed well. Can use in a non-"clean room" environ, and wet sanding makes slurry to fill pores of red-oak type porous woods.
Cheers

[Todd Burch]

Is this a poll or a question, or a poll and a question? Seems they are not related.

You and I will go bad before the BLO goes bad.

Sandpaper grit depends. "Depends" is not a choice.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

I have an old can of boiled linseed oil, perhaps 3 years old? Does this stuff go bad, or is it ok to use for my current project?

You will know it's gone bad when it hardens into a little ball in the bottom of the can.

[John Keeton]

I just finished up a can of BLO that I bought in 1972!! As you can see, I have not been a "heavy user" in the past!! My guess is the shelf life is somewhat in excess of 37 years?????

[Scott Holmes]

Hey John,

I too have an old can of BLO; I don't use it, because it has LEAD as the metal drier!
They quit using in ~ 1978.

[John Keeton]

Scott, maybe it is the nerve damage from the lead poisoning that keeps me from doing really good joints in my woodworking! Has to be some reason beyond lack of skill!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I just finished up a can of BLO that I bought in 1972!! As you can see, I have not been a "heavy user" in the past!! My guess is the shelf life is somewhat in excess of 37 years?????

You got me beat John! I just finished a can that I bought in 1986.

[John Keeton]

You got me beat John! I just finished a can that I bought in 1986.

Apparently you have escaped the lead poisoning problem! I bought my first can when I started building longrifles. That was the finish I used - 5-7 coats of hand rubbed, and rubbed, and rubbed BLO! Then wax.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Apparently you have escaped the lead poisoning problem! I bought my first can when I started building longrifles. That was the finish I used - 5-7 coats of hand rubbed, and rubbed, and rubbed BLO! Then wax.

You forgot to mention "RUBBED"....

[Stephen Musial]

What size cans do you guys buy? I'm on my second gallon in 9 years and I'm just a hobbiest.

[John Keeton]

Stephen, keep in mind that until recently, I was a wipe on poly guy!! Still like the stuff, notwithstanding all the negative press

BLO has only caught my attention since joining and surfing the creek. I have nearly used my second quart in the last 2-3 months.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

My first quart I bought in 1986 to help freshen an oil painting.

[phil harold]

I go thru a gallon or so every year I sand and oil all wood handles: hoes, rakes, shovels, wheel barrel... some times use as a wood finish but mostly as a wood protector.

Old painter trick was to mix blo 50-50 with turps then coat all exterior trim wait 2 weeks and then prime and paint with oil base, the paint never peeled

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Hey John,

I too have an old can of BLO; I don't use it, because it has LEAD as the metal drier!
They quit using in ~ 1978.

Well maybe you shouldn't use it for cutting boards, chopsticks, and salad bowls but the lead in the dryer is insignificant Go ahead and use it.

[Roger Newby]

I just finished off a can that I bought while in high school. I graduated in 1965! The price tag on the can (one quart) was 79 cents plus, I used it to freshen up a batch of beeswax, BLO, turpentine mix from the same time frame. My neighbor back then raised bees and GAVE me a pound of beeswax for the mix. Wish he was still around!