Deck Sealant with Linseed Oil, Turpentine and Vinegar

Deck Sealant with Linseed Oil, Turpentine and Vinegar

A couple of years ago I replaced the spindles on my deck with metal ones.  After 35 years of deck use I was tired of painting and repainting the spindles.

I had repainted the spindles often enough so that they were in surprisingly good shape even though all the screws that held them in place were rusting.  So much so, that there was nothing holding the spindle in place at the base of the wood.  They could just be pushed outward.

The last time I had painted the spindles, I swore that if I ever had to paint those spindles again I would kill myself  (just a figure of speech but you get the idea).

The white are the old spindles which look surprisingly good in these photos.  Don’t let the photo fool you folks, between the mold and mildew and the bird poop, they were getting harder and harder to keep looking white.

The solution was to pop out the railing section, keeping the 4×4 posts and top rail in place, and put in a new set of spindles with 2×4 treated wood.  The white wood spindles were all replaced with black, all metal, never need to be painted again, spindles.

Most of the railing surfaces got a new coat of solid color stain 2 years ago but the 2×4’s never had a treatment.

You know how you should wait 4 months or so before sealing treated wood giving it a chance to dry out?  Well that 4 months had turned into 2 years.  I think the treated wood has had plenty of time to dry out. It was time to take action.

So, after a solid week of rain, the weather had finally cleared and I had a few beautiful days to seal the treated wood. It helped that on my Instagram feed I was told about a classic  DIY recipe to clean and protect old or weathered wood.  I think my phone is pushing me to finish my DIY projects.

This is not a finish for rotting or soft wood.

The classic DIY wood sealant and treatment includes Boiled Linseed Oil,  Turpentine and  Vinegar.

– Boiled Linseed Oil –  Rehydrates dry wood fibers and creates a water resistant seal.  Always use boiled Linseed oil as raw oil will take weeks to dry

– Turpentine -Thins the linseed oil so it can penetrate the wood and cure faster

– White Vinegar – Acts as a cleaner for built up grime and mildew

While I had turpentine and vinegar on hand, I did have to purchase the Linseed Oil.  I just checked, Walmart has a qt of Linseed Oil for $10.28, Home Depot $15.48 and Amazon $18.95.

You’ll also need, rubber gloves, a container  to put your mixture in, preferably glass and not plastic, and a stirring stick.  You’ll want the jar to have a large enough opening that you can easily mix your liquid as well as dip your rag in for application.  Note…turpentine can dissolve some plastics.

You’ll also need an old soft rag for applying.

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Put equal parts linseed oil, turpentine and vinegar into your mixing jar.  I’m using slightly more than  a cup of each to start.

Mix well.  I did find that the mixture separated rather easily and quickly, think oil and vinegar dressing, so I kept the mixing stick in the mixture for frequent stirs.

Wherever you have dry, bare wood, wipe on a nice even coat of the mixture in the direction of the wood grain.  Already, the wood is enjoying it’s new coat of moisture.

Always work outdoors or in a well ventilated area.  It is advised against using this on indoor projects because of the lingering turpentine smell.  Also, do not use on anything you’ll be eating off of, such as wooden mixing bowls or cutting boards.

Once the first coat of the sealant has dried, wait 24 to 48 hours and apply a second coat.

Years ago I tried out a product, Flood Penetrol, for restoring my outdoor aluminum table.  The product worked great, the table looked brand new but the surface would have to be retreated every year.  By the time I was ready to retreat the table, the product had hardened and dried out.

Did you know that one of the active ingredients in the Penetrol is Linseed oil?  So while I had a little of the Linseed Oil, turpentine, vinegar mixture still left, I might as well try it on my table again.  The last treatment I had done on the table was in 2021, it was looking tired again.

After application my table was new again.  At least as new as a 20 year old table was ever going to be.

Clean Up

Linseed oil is combustible, so don’t just throw your wadded up rags in the trash.  Lay them flat to dry outside on a flame resistant surface such as concrete or brick.  Once dry, you can throw your rag away.

Until next time, stay inspired.