~SUSTAINABLE LIVING FOR CHALLENGING TIMES

[sumisu]

Is Linseed Oil Safe for Planter Boxes, or Will It Leach?

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/linseed-oil-safe-planter-boxes-leach-98556.html


There are two types of linseed oils; raw and boiled.

"Raw linseed oil is an eco-safe wood preservative that was commonly used before modern synthetic sealers were created. It is an all-natural product that can be purchased in organic forms. It is fairly inexpensive and easily applied with a brush. The oil is very slow-drying, and will take days or even weeks to thoroughly dry. If you choose to use linseed oil, be certain to purchase it in raw form, not boiled, which contains additives that are potentially toxic."

Above quote from: https://dengarden.com/gardening/top-5-safe-wood-sealers-for-raised-bed-and-container-gardens


"Basically, there are three types of linseed oil, two of which are non-toxic.

1) Raw linseed oil is, in fact, flax seed oil. It takes a long time to dry but is entirely non-toxic.

2) The polymerized version is true “boiled” linseed oil, sometimes called “stand oil”. Stand oil is generated by heating linseed oil near 300 °C for a few days in the complete absence of air. Under these conditions, a is highly viscous product results, which provides exceptionally uniform coatings that “dry” to more elastic coatings than linseed oil itself. It also dries much more quickly (although still more slowly than toxic, commonly-used polyurethanes.) This true boiled linseed oil is also non-toxic.

3) The “boiled linseed oil” you can buy in most stores is actually mostly raw linseed oil, but with plasticizers, hardeners, and heavy metals added to make it act like true boiled oil, without the time and effort it takes to actually boil it; in other words, it’s cheap. Folks who are concerned about the toxicity of linseed oil are likely thinking of this type."

The above quote is from: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/is-linseed-oil-toxic/

The Jasco Boiled Linseed Oil recommended to me is now questionable and has various warnings that you might want to review.

http://www.jasco-help.com/uploads/documents/GJBLO110_SDS-1660CD.pdf


Conclusion for my purposes

I will experiment with a polymerized version of “boiled” linseed oil, if I can find a vendor who sells an outdoor product. Originally I had hoped that I could find a linseed product that would repel animals attacking my gardens, but that might only be achieved with good fencing.

sumi


PS: Non toxic, zero VOC, environmentally safe wood treatment for your raised garden beds