bj²
Gwoine Fishin/forgot bait
Registered: 01/30/04
Posts: 6086
Loc: The Shoals, AL
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Howard, can you clear something up for me? I've heard of the Mineral oil/paraffin finish, but never a BLO/paraffin finish. In your explanation, you start by saying BLO, but finish by mentioning mineral oil. Which is it?
Thanks 
Howard Acheson said:
First, is an boiled linseed oil and wax finish. Sand the surface to 180 grit. Mix paraffin or bees wax into heated boiled linseed oil. USE A DOUBLE BOILER TO HEAT THE OIL. The ratio is not critical but about 5-6 parts of boiled linseed oil in a double boiler with one part paraffin or beeswax shaved in. Take it off the stove. Thin this mixture about 50/50 with mineral spirits to make a heavy cream like liquid. Apply this mixture to the benchtop liberally and allow to set overnight. Do it again the next day and again the following day if the top continues to absorb it. After a final overnight, lightly scrape off any excess wax and buff. This finish will minimize the absorbsion of any water and you can use a damp rag to wipe up any glue excess. Dried glue will pop right off the surface. Renewal or repair is easy. Just use a scraper to remove and hardened stuff, wipe down with mineral spirits using a 3/0 steel wool pad (a non-woven green or gray abrasive pad is better), wipe off the gunk and apply another coat of mineral oil/wax mixture.
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Howard Acheson
Registered: 08/07/01
Posts: 18883
Loc: Southport, NC USA
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Sorry, it should be boiled linseed oil/wax mixture in the last sentence. The mineral oil/wax mixture is a treatment used on cutting boards and butcher blocks.
-------------------- Howie.........
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Tapper
Member
Registered: 10/12/99
Posts: 7855
Loc: Helena, MT USA
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Welcome to the forum! Howard is definitely the finishing "guru" around here but when I built my bench several years ago from the plans in Woodsmith #50, the recommended finish for the top was Tung Oil. It was readily available, worked nicely, was easy to apply and is easy to touch up occasionally when necessary.
Good luck,
Doug
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