Painting with linseed oil paint doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. Follow our step-by-step guide for a beautiful, period-appropriate finish! The linseed oil paint from Selder & Co, available in our online shop, is a high-quality, traditional paint that can be tinted in virtually any colour.
Preparing to paint with linseed oil paint
Linseed oil paint penetrates deeply into wood fibres, offering both protection and nourishment. However, it’s important that the surface is clean and free from any old paint. Remove all previous coatings, fill in any irregularities, and sand to the desired smoothness.
How much paint will you need? One litre of linseed oil paint typically covers around 8–14 m² per coat on a smooth surface. For larger areas, multiple coats or rough surfaces, expect higher paint consumption.
How to paint with linseed oil paint – step by step
1. Seal knots, resin streaks and nail heads with shellac before you start painting. This helps prevent staining from resin and rust. Pour a small amount into a container and apply with a simple, smaller brush. Aim for an even application.
2. Let the shellac dry. It can be overpainted after 30–60 minutes. Particularly resinous knots can benefit from a second application.
3. Then apply a primer using our zinc-based Linseed Oil Primer for a strong, protective base coat that resists mould. Primer should always be used, whether the surface is bare wood or previously painted. It’s suitable for most surfaces, both indoors and outdoors. For exterior painting, drying time may be longer – on warm, sunny days expect 3–4 days. Cold or damp conditions will increase drying time.
4. Once the primer is fully cured, apply two even, covering coats of linseed oil paint in your chosen colour, in either a semi-gloss or semi-matt finish. Do not thin the paint – apply it directly from the tin. Ensure each coat is fully dry before applying the next. Our linseed oil paint dries within 24 hours at 20°C and with good ventilation.
Please note that linseed oil paint contains linseed oil, which means rags, cloths and other fibrous materials can self-ignite. To be safe, we recommend soaking used cloths in water and sealing them in a plastic bag – or burning them in a controlled way.
