boiled linseed oil and turps...i put that 'stuff' on everything...sometimes a pinch of pine-tar too...
This thread got me curious about the status of my oil mix can of 1/3 spar varnish, 1/3 turpentine and 1/3 boiled linseed oil. I have not popped the lid on that can in several years, and the last time I opened it I dropped in a solidified hockey puck of spar varnish, which has been slowly dissolving in the turp and linseed oil, was now nearly dissolved.
That mix was stored in a clean, virgin 1quart can, so the top sealed well. Filled almost to the top, so there was little head space remaining.
The once hockey puck of varnish is almost completely dissolved, and the mix could probably use more thinner/solvent for the initial applications. It doesn’t smell nearly as turpentiney as the initial mix. I bet if I shook it up that varnish puck occasionally it would dissolve completely.
I recall folks mentioned their preference for using “fresh” oil mxes. Does it really matter? That can of mix showed no sign of separation or degradation. It looks and smells like the last time I added to it, albeit more varnishy.
BTW, clean rimmed “paint” cans that seal well are a shop godsend. I can find empty virgin quart paint cans at the hardware store, but not anything in smaller cans.
Empty half-pint stain cans (cleaned out) are a boon for storing small amounts of shop fluids with restricted head space. Do not throw those puppies in the trash; solvent rinse them and store them for future use. When you get down to the last 8oz of varnish or paint just decant it into a smaller sealed receptacle for headspace free longevity.
