Has anyone applied RAW linseed oil on exterior garden beds? How did you apply it and how many coats did you do?
Asked by Alberte Mortensen 
3 months ago
Last Updated: October 5, 2024
We’re putting together some new raised garden beds. We burned the wood using the shou sugi ban technique, then gave it a good scrub with a wire brush. Now I’m about to put on some linseed oil, but I’m a bit overwhelmed with all the different ways people say to do it. Has anyone here tried using RAW linseed oil on outdoor garden beds? How did you go about applying it? And how many coats did you end up doing? Appreciate any advice!
Last summer, I tried out Shou Sugi Ban on my deck boards. I opted for boiled linseed oil since it absorbs quickly. Planning to do a fresh coat every summer after applying two coats initially.
Oh, I believe you have to dilute boiled linseed oil with mineral spirits. However, when using raw linseed oil outside, you don’t need to dilute it. Since I’m using it for veggies, I’m avoiding mineral spirits. It’s good to know that it takes a while to absorb. I’m hoping that 2 coats will be sufficient for me as well, especially considering the slow absorption rate.
Hey, you actually don’t really need to add mineral spirits to boiled linseed oil…unless you want it to dry faster for some reason. But if you do that, you’ll end up using more linseed oil. I personally just used it on its own. I applied a decent amount, waited about half an hour, and then wiped off any excess that didn’t absorb. I repeated the same process for the second coat. Now that it’s been through a winter, I’ll test how well it held up against the snow and ice. We had a spring melt and it looked great before getting covered in more snow 😆
Wow, mind blown 🤯
I found this product super easy to use: Garden-Seal NonToxic Wood and Pottery Sealer https://a.co/d/bsLsnIP
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Oh cool! I’ll definitely look into that. Thank you
I placed my boards on two sawhorses outdoors, poured the oil over them, and then used a brush to distribute it evenly. I made sure to apply a thick coat, allowing it to rest for 10-20 minutes (but not too long to prevent stickiness), and then used rags to remove any excess.
Kudos to you, it’s quite a job from beginning to end!
You could even experiment with a pump sprayer.
Wow, that sounds like a lot of effort! Great job!
Expressed gratitude! This project has required a ton of effort. 😅 But I’m expanding my vegetable garden significantly, so that’s what’s keeping me going.
Burning pressure treated wood is a big no-no… come on, folks. Hopefully you avoided inhaling those fumes or dust while wire brushing.
Hey John, just so you know, that wood isn’t pressure treated.
That’s fantastic, you did a beautiful job!
Hey John! I actually burned my PT deck boards and made sure to wear a proper mask throughout. The boards ended up looking amazing…all 85 of them! In this photo, some were still drying after being oiled, which is why they appear different still.
Toxic chemicals might be released in the smoke, and ashes from treated wood could pose a danger to livestock or wildlife. Chips, sawdust, and debris from treated wood are classified as hazardous waste and should not be burned or disposed of anywhere other than locations specified by local government authorities. Great job on all 85 of them
Extremely harmful.
I’m curious, why do people burn the wood? Is it purely for aesthetics or is there another reason?
Explained how it helps stop decay and insect infestations, while also preventing molding. It’s actually an old Japanese method.
I appreciate it!!!
Mentions that it provides additional fire resistance for the wood.
Is amazing. Thank you!
Looks like the veggies might have a charred flavor now haha
I guess we’ll go with roasted red peppers from the vine 😅
Seems like a good choice to me haha
When it comes to raw linseed oil, I tend to steer clear. My process involves burning the wood, scraping it, applying linseed oil, and repeating the steps. Afterwards, I use steel wool, linseed oil, heat it with a torch, and repeat the process. If I’m working on furniture, I continue refining the wood until it’s smooth and silky. However, if I’m working on rougher wood, I stop after two rounds of burning, scraping, and oiling.
I personally prefer using Tung Oil, and I like to apply it using a sponge.