Linseed oil is an inexpensive, safe, environmentally friendly and easy-to-use agent that can protect wood in a bath from the negative effects of high humidity and temperature. Its mixtures with other components are successfully used for external impregnation of the steam room. Content:
- Using flaxseed oil
- The choice of oil for the bath
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Internal processing of the bath
- Processing instructions
- Linseed oil and wax mixture
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External treatment of the bath
- Oil refining
- Impregnation instructions
To protect and improve the performance of the wood in the bath, it is covered with antiseptic compounds. They also contribute to the long-term preservation of the aesthetic appearance of the material. And if the auxiliary rooms or the outer surface can be treated with chemicals, then only natural ingredients are used to impregnate the shelves, walls, floor and ceiling in the steam room itself. Linseed oil is considered one of the most common.
Features of using linseed oil for a bath
The process of impregnating wood with this substance is called glazing. Its main advantages are:
- Environmental friendliness … Flax oil does not emit toxic substances and is even used to impregnate wooden dishes.
- Reliable protection … The composition is able to penetrate deeply into the structure of the tree.
- Hydrophobicity … Effective moisture rejection.
- Retaining appearance … The transparent coating preserves the wood grain and prevents it from rotting and darkening.
- Antiseptic effect … Linseed oil protects the surface from mold and mildew.
- Convenient application … Processing is possible even in hard-to-reach places.
- Relative cheapness … Compared with special impregnations for baths from leading manufacturers, the composition has a low cost.
As for the disadvantages of the substance, the drying time is distinguished here. After the final impregnation, you need to wait a few weeks, only then you can operate the steam room.
Choosing linseed oil for a bath
Linseed oil is used both in pure form and when mixed with wax, tar, turpentine to increase the performance properties.
A mixture with various components, as a rule, is used for external impregnation. This is because turpentine, for example, is toxic and can cause allergies or cause thermal burns. Tar is less toxic, but has the same disadvantages as turpentine. Beeswax is the only substance that can be mixed with for the interior impregnation of a bath.
Choose flaxseed oil, which contains the maximum amount of glycerides of linolenic and linoleic acids. It cures faster and has improved protective properties. Keep in mind that pure flaxseed oil should be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated.
You can buy natural oil at any pharmacy. Its price starts from 50 rubles per 100 grams. Calculate the required amount according to the principle: 1 liter of oil - per 10 m32.
Natural resins and pine turpentine are additionally included in industrial impregnations for a bath based on it. Linseed oil formulations from Caparol, Rustins, Tikkurila, Remmers are popular. Price - from 300 rubles per liter.
Internal treatment of the bath with linseed oil
Linseed oil is suitable not only for the treatment of bath shelves, but also for the entire room. In this case, it is advisable to impregnate the floor 3-4 times a year, since it is most susceptible to moisture. The rest of the elements also need regular processing. Especially the ceiling, because the high temperature affects it the most.
Instructions for applying linseed oil inside the bath
Before starting work, make sure that the air humidity in the room is about 80%, and that the wood itself is less than 14%. It is not recommended to use a substance for treating oak. This will cause permanent dark stains to appear on the wood.
In the process of internal processing of the bath with linseed oil, we adhere to the following sequence:
- We sand the surface and clean it from dust. Never use a damp cloth for this.
- Stir the oil thoroughly. It is not recommended to dilute it with water. This will impair further polymerization.
- We heat it up to a temperature of 50-60 degrees.
- Apply to the wood along the grain with a brush or cotton cloth. We try to make the layer thin and even.
- After complete drying, we grind the surface and apply a second layer.
- We repeat the procedure 5-6 times with variable grinding.
- Leave it to dry completely for two to three weeks. To speed up the solidification process, you need to use not raw, but thermally treated oil. Then the operation of the steam room is possible after 5-6 days.
After hardening, linseed oil turns into a semi-solid mass due to polymerization under the influence of light, air and heat. During the first few warm-ups of the steam room, greasy spots may remain on the body. However, in the future, only the protective layer will remain.
Bath treatment with a mixture of linseed oil and wax
If you decide to soak wood in a bath with a suspension of beeswax and flax oil, then you need to take into account some of the nuances of its preparation and correct application.
We carry out work in this order:
- We sand wood and remove dust.
- Prepare a mixture with wax in a 2: 1 ratio. To do this, add heated wax to boiled flax oil and mix thoroughly.
- We apply the composition to the surface with a foam sponge along the fibers.
- After drying, wipe off the remnants with a waffle cloth and apply a second layer.
- We warm up the steam room and remove the wax drops that have come out from the surface.
If you have chosen a ready-made industrial suspension, then such a substance contains polyurethane components, so adding wax is not relevant.
External treatment of the bath with linseed oil
External impregnation must be carried out in sunny weather. In this case, the surface can be pre-coated with a primer. However, linseed oil tends to turn yellow when exposed to sunlight, which can significantly degrade the appearance of wood. Therefore, for these purposes, they acquire a purified composition.
Cleaning linseed oil before covering the bath
To get rid of polyunsaturated acids that give wood yellowness, you can use the following cleaning methods:
- Salt water rinse. For a high-quality result, repeat this procedure 5-7 times.
- Adding metal salt. The oil is mixed with lead salt and heated to 60-70%.
- Adding ethanol. The best option for cleaning from contaminants.
- Light exposure. The process is called photo-oxidation. Assumes preliminary hydraulic flushing. To do this, boil the oil with water, and then strain it.
These methods are especially relevant for crude crude oil.
Instructions for external impregnation of a bath with linseed oil
Only previously untreated surfaces can be coated with linseed oil. If you decide to treat the outside of the log house, which was previously opened with varnish, then it is better to begin with completely removing the remnants of paint, varnish and traces of mold. The best option for external coating is a mixture of oil and turpentine.
The procedure is performed in this order:
- We thoroughly grind the surface and clean it from wood dust.
- Mix flax oil with turpentine in 70:30 parts and heat to 50-60 degrees.
- Apply the first layer with a soft brush and wait for it to dry.
- We grind the surface and saturate it a second time.
- After complete hardening, apply the third layer.
The log house outside also needs periodic renewal of the coating. It is advisable to carry it out during the hot season. How to use linseed oil for bath treatment - watch the video:
The protective properties of flax oil allow it to be used for internal and external treatment of the bath. This material is completely environmentally friendly, which means that the bath will bring not only pleasure, but also benefit. Moreover, you can process the wood with the composition yourself, and the process is completely easy.
