TSP is itself harsh enough that milder TSP substitutes are now widely used to
prep surfaces for painting. I don't know what they're made of, but they work
fine and if you can't find a rubber glove it won't eat your skin. But you should
still use gloves. YMMV on tallow/BLO glop.

Conflating threads: I have recently experimented with some "pure" linseed oil
and artist's turpentine acquired for a shocking amount of cash from the art
supply store. I mixed them roughly 50-50 and applied to a variety of woods,
mostly tool handles, with good results so far. It seems to sink in faster, and
leave less of a film, than BLO-based mixes. Both components also smell much more
pleasant than the big box equivalents.

I did not add wax in case it gets gummy and I want to shellac over it, but that
has not been a problem so far and it's 100 degrees F and humid pretty much all
the time here.

I wondered 1) if there was any difference between pure unboiled linseed oil and
flaxseed oil, and 2) if anyone has actually boiled either to hasten the drying
time.

Best,
Max in Austin

> On Sep 1, 2014, at 6:47 PM, Gary Roberts  wrote:
> 
> and my two cents
> 
> Trisodium phosphate 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Sep 1, 2014, at 2:46 AM, Tony Blanks  wrote:
>> 
>> , but I'd like to lighten the colour if that can be done short of using paint
stripper.