Take part in our Christmas game and try to win a handmade wooden product 🌿🎁 Take part in our Christmas game and try to win a handmade wooden product 🌿🎁
Do you know what linseed oil is used for? Do you know its benefits for wood and how useful it is when carving wood? Linseed oil is the most commonly used oil because it is a natural, eco-friendly and inexpensive treatment that nourishes the wood and makes it more resistant. I’ll explain everything just below!
Anne-Laure Compain
Anne-Laure Compain
Nature Lovers
Published on 15 June 2022 (Updated on 31 October 2025)
You may already know this, but when you have just carved a wooden cup, object or kitchen utensil, you must apply a surface treatment to it. If the object you have just carved is intended for food use, such as a spoon, plate or cup, you should make sure to use a natural and non-toxic treatment. Or, don’t apply any treatment at all and let food fats do the treatment.
The benefits of linseed oil for wood
Let me begin by explaining what linseed oil is. This oil is obtained by pressing linseed seeds, either hot or cold, after they have been harvested and dried.
Warning: some linseed oils are not natural and contain solvents. They are reserved for industry and art. They should not be used for wooden objects that come into contact with food.
Once linseed oil is applied to wood, it will have a natural water-repellent film and will be protected against:
Moisture
Mold
Scratches
Insects
Dust
Cracks
Raw, hard or boiled linseed oil, which one to choose for your wood?
Linseed oil is most commonly found in the following forms:
Boiled linseed oil
Raw linseed oil
Drying linseed oil
Hard linseed oil
Raw linseed oil
You will also find raw linseed oil under the name "clarified linseed oil". It is an oil made by cold-pressing flax seeds, without any heating.
It penetrates better and has a lighter color when exposed to sunlight.
Note that over time raw linseed oil tends to yellow. It also takes a very long time to dry!
Boiled linseed oil
Boiled linseed oil, or stand oil, is obtained, unlike clarified linseed oil, by hot-pressing flax seeds and polymerizing at a temperature above 280 ° C.
It is known for its high durability, but note that it penetrates less well into the wood.
Hard linseed oil
Natural hard linseed oil is not only composed of flax; it also contains plant substances and trace elements. Like boiled oil, it is not very penetrating but has a short drying time.
Drying linseed oil
A drying oil dries faster. To achieve this, manganese or cobalt is added to linseed oil. These natural active agents increase resistance and promote faster drying of the linseed oil.
How to apply linseed oil to wood?
Linseed oil can be applied to all types of wood. However, if you don't want your teak to blacken irreparably, I advise you not to apply linseed oil to it.
For all other types, you can apply linseed oil to your wood with a soft cloth or a brush. It depends on the surface you have to cover. For a kuksa, for example, a soft cloth is more than enough!
Clean the surface
Remove all traces of dust, water or food. You can also, if the wood needs it, lightly sand it with fine sandpaper to make it smooth. Always sand in the direction of the grain.
Apply a first coat
When applying oil to wood, you should apply it in the direction of the grain and, if possible, without stopping to ensure an even finish. You can apply it either with a soft cloth or with a brush. It depends on the surface you need to cover. For a flat surface, I recommend the brush, while for a surface like a spoon or a cup, I recommend using a cloth.
A little tip: if your linseed oil is too thick and difficult to spread, you can heat it slightly in a double boiler so that it is warm and easier to apply.
Add material
If you see that in some places the wood is not saturated with oil, don't hesitate to add more; you can remove the excess later.
Tip: if you have small objects to oil, such as kitchen utensils or cups, you can soak them in linseed oil.
Leave to dry
Drying time can vary, sometimes by up to twice as much, depending on where the wood is (room temperature and humidity). It can take between 12 and 24 hours.
You can see on many websites that it is possible to mix linseed oil with turpentine because it speeds up the drying of the wood. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it because it won't hold up as well as pure linseed oil.
Are you interested in the world of wood? 🌳
Discover the incredible versatility of wood through various species and the world of woodworking. By subscribing, you'll receive information on wood and wood species once a week.
How long does linseed oil take to dry on wood?
As noted above, the drying time varies greatly. It depends on the oil used and on the drying conditions. A warm room with good air circulation is recommended.
You can also use boiled linseed oil rather than raw to speed up drying. You can also use drying agents to accelerate the process. Finally, as a last tip, you can remove the excess oil a few minutes after drying begins.
Does linseed oil darken wood?
Yes. As it dries and ages, linseed oil will darken the wood. It has a yellow tint, light for raw oil and more pronounced for boiled oil.
You can lighten your oil; I explain how just below.
Some tips on linseed oil and wood
How to lighten linseed oil?
If you have used boiled linseed oil, you may have noticed that the wood has taken on a yellowish tint. If you don't like this color, you can either find a lighter boiled linseed oil or let the oil bleach in the sun.
How to color linseed oil?
Linseed oil goes very well with liquid or granulated walnut stain and will darken the color of the wood. Prepare half a liter of water and mix it with 100g of granulated walnut stain. Once dissolved, take 10ml of your mixture and add it to 200ml of linseed oil previously heated in a water bath. Apply it to your wood and watch it darken.
Is flaxseed oil toxic?
No, flaxseed oil is not toxic. What is toxic, however, are all the solvents you might add to it or that are added commercially. That’s why, for kitchen utensils or a kuksa, I recommend using natural boiled or raw flaxseed oil on its own, without solvents or drying accelerators.
What to do with your rags after use?
Rags and papers soaked in linseed oil can spontaneously combust if not picked up. Therefore, you should always wet them and put them in a plastic bag after you finish your work. As for your brushes, wash them with water and black soap.
Discover our artisanal care products to maintain and preserve wood
Linseed oil is the most commonly used oil for kitchen utensils and wooden dishes. However, it can give off a taste, especially when in contact with hot liquids. You may notice a coffee-like taste. But this will fade and disappear as you use your kuksa.
If you don't want this coffee taste during the first uses of your kuksa, don't treat the inside of your cup, only the outside! For the inside, treat your kuksa with coffee grounds.
Decoration of kuksas
For kitchen utensils, dishes and wooden cups, it is advisable to use artistic linseed oil paint. It is a very concentrated paint. It is therefore possible to mix it with boiled linseed oil to make it easier and more pleasant to use.
Do you want to see what a kuksa looks like?
Discover our authentic kuksas, hand-carved in Finland, and our eco-friendly wooden cups made in Finland.
The mixture of beeswax and linseed oil is a mixture that will both :
Penetrate the wood
Protect the surface
Add shine
To make this mixture and use it for food products, you need to make sure the beeswax and linseed oil are non-toxic and do not contain solvents.
Otherwise, you can make it yourself!
Heat 1/4 beeswax and 3/4 raw linseed oil in a saucepan.
Stir your mixture until the wax melts and mixes evenly with the linseed oil
Pour the mixture into a sterilized glass jar and let it sit overnight with the lid removed.
To preserve it, store the oil in a cool, dark place.
Paraffin oil
Unlike linseed oil, paraffin oil is completely transparent, odorless and tasteless. Now you’re thinking, this is the perfect oil! Well, yes and no.
Paraffin oil is a petroleum product, not at all natural! However, this oil is non-toxic, so it can be used to oil wood used for food.
Secondly, paraffin oil does not harden the wood; it will only grease it so that it becomes water-repellent. With time, the oil will come off and a new treatment will have to be done.
This oil is good when you want to keep a wood's light color because it will not change its shade.
Christmas Game, win wooden kuksa cups
Experience an authentic and traditional Christmas with our giveaway! Try your luck to win one of our handmade wooden kuksa cups, specially selected to brighten your holidays.
For Christmas, try to win one of our 3 favorite kuksa. A handmade wooden mug to celebrate the festive season. 🎄
To enter, add your email address below
Contest results on December 21. 🍀
Cookies
We and selected third parties use cookies or similar technologies for technical purposes and, with your consent, for experience, measurement and marketing.
