Basic Course in Linseed Oil Paint
1 + 1 becomes 2
Is it that simple? No, not really. The basic ingredients in Ottosson’s linseed oil paint are indeed linseed oil and color pigments that are mechanically processed into a homogeneous color, but as a manufacturer, we are very aware of the variations in both linseed oil and color pigments. First, there is cold-pressed and hot-pressed linseed oil; the oil can be aged or filtered. The pigments also vary in quality. That is why at Ottosson’s, they attach great importance to ensuring that out products consist of the best materials, to provide the best results on your home exterior, fences, carpentry details, window frames, or whatever you want to paint.
Are you considering painting with linseed oil paint? Here is a basic course in why you should use linseed oil paint.
1. Linseed oil is phenomenal as a surface strengthener
Golden linseed oil can be used for many things, such as cooking and color production, and in addition to being quite healthy for consumption, it has fantastic strengthening properties thanks to its structure of tiny molecules. These molecules penetrate the cells of wood, small cavities in plaster, and metal surfaces. Thanks to its low viscosity, the oil protects wood from rot, metal from corrosion, and plaster and stone from penetrating moisture and stone. It also protects and strengthens the surface. Combined with purity, linseed oil offers high adhesion. Using linseed oil paint provides a painted surface that can withstand both stress and wear.
2. The paint is less expensive in the long run
Per litre, linseed oil paint is a little more expensive than conventional paints, but we choose to think in coverage instead. Our tests show that one litre of linseed oil paint covers approximately two to three times the surface area as the corresponding amount of conventional water-based paint. In part, this can be explained by the fact that linseed oil, unlike water-based paint, does not evaporate. Our linseed oil paint also contains a large volume of pigment, which makes it easy to paint with. The cost is also affected by other factors, such as how often repainting is needed. Thanks to the penetration of linseed oil, maintenance is required less often, and it is usually enough to add a coat of linseed oil to improve the paint’s luster.
3. The right conditions mean shorter drying times
4. Traditional, natural pigments, that are UV-light resistant
At Ottosson’s, they use both organic and inorganic pigments. They both come from nature but have some differences. Organic pigments are carbon compounds from the animal or plant kingdom (such as bone black or indigo) or have been extracted from petroleum, while inorganic pigments come from soil and consist of metals (such as ocher and umber), and are produced by stone crushing and processing or synthetic processes. Natural is good of course, but it challenges us as manufacturers because natural pigments can vary in quality and composition. This is why we choose suppliers that can meet our requirements for consistent and controllable quality. Being natural pigments they are more stable chemically that the synthetic pigments used in acrylic paints, and as a result Ottosson linseed oil paint is far more resistant to UV-light damage.
5. Durable painting with linseed oil paint
It’s true that some other types of paint dry faster, but by ensuring that you have the right conditions when using linseed oil paint, you will shorten the drying time. A crucial factor in drying is the availability of heat, oxygen, and good ventilation. When painting indoors, it is important to allow the linseed oil to oxidize (the paint reacts with oxygen). Open windows and doors and make sure you have good air circulation. In favorable outdoor weather, linseed oil paint can build a dry-to-the-touch film surface in about ten hours. In general, the drying time varies from 12 to 36 hours. Be patient with the paint and remember to apply it in thin layers.
​Linseed oil paint is a smart environmental choice. Many water-soluble plastic and alkyd oil paints are largely residual products from the petrochemical industry, which means that they may contain substances that can cause both skin allergies and eczema for users. Ottosson’s linseed oil paint contains no such substances. Pigments and linseed oil are our two basic ingredients. Linseed oil is locally produced by farms in Skåne and Östergötland, Sweden. Waste residues from painting with linseed oil paint do not harm nature. For us, using linseed oil paint is about preserving buildings and resources, and relating to their present and future.