Hi All,

Various anti-linseed oil comments made re this thread have twanged my
bow. I can't quote the sources off the top of my head, but I'm sure I've
seen several of them that stated that linseed oil was the finish of
choice of almost all old time plane users. One of the primary reasons so
many 200 year old planes are still here in pretty decent shape is
because they were finished with linseed oil. To me, any current thinking
that linseed oil is undesirable and/or might do damage is a bunch of
bunkum. Will it darken a plane? Yes, sometimes more than others
depending on the wood, the phase of the moon, and who knows what else.
Is that bad? It's a matter of personal taste, but I prefer the slightly
darker look it usually imparts to the dry bleached out look of something
that's been left out in the sun and rain.

That said, do I always use linseed oil on planes? No, many exotic wood
planes don't seem to need it as much as the more common birch or beech
planes. My main basis for deciding to use it is whether the wood looks
"dry". If so, on goes a half and half mix of boiled oil and turps; wait
about 15-30 minutes and then thoroughly wipe all standing mix off the
surface. Check the next day and do it again if there are still any "dry"
looking spots. And again the next day and on until it looks "right".
Whether or not to then put some wax on is again a matter of personal
taste and whether the tool seems to look like it "needs" it. Years ago,
I waxed very few tools; as I've aged, I've come to favor doing more ot
them. I'll almost always wax the exotic woods.

Now that my spleen has been vented, Ill retreat to my rock just off the
far corner of the porch.

Best to all,
Bob