crazy idea- linseed oil for concrete sealer??
Ok- my barn-restoration-into-workshop conversion is finally moving along. I have slabs poured on the ground level now.
I'm thinking that as long as I have these pristine slabs-o-concrete here, I might as well put a sealer of some sort on them, to make them easier to cleanup and so that oil won't stain the concrete, etc.
I have about 1800 ft2 to treat. To buy good enviro-seal it costs about $107/5 gallons and I think I'll need 15 gallons. Ouch. Especially since there are several upcoming expenses on the barn, and a couple of auctions I want to go to.
So- I happen to have 55 gallons of old linseed oil. It got me thinking- i wonder what this stuff will do on concrete? I think one problem is that it may take forever to dry, so maybe I could buy some japan dryer.
This is indoor only, by the way. I wonder if the linseed solids would do any good at all for repelling water or oil or other staining stuff? It may be better than nothing (of course, it may be worse too!)
I plan to try some of some broken up chunks of concrete to see what it does.
so, there is precedent...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Copas
Linseed oil has been used for years to seal concrete. Mix it 50/50 with kerosene or mineral spirits and slosh it on with sprayer or roller. It’s not the best or longest lasting...expect to re-apply it to concrete outside every year or two. Will darken the concrete at first but lightens after a while.
And the smell does linger for a while.
Well, now. Maybe I wasn't so crazy after all. The slab is indoors- this will be an area where I restore antique tractors, change the oil in cars, do welding, sandblasting, painting, etc. The woodworking goes on upstairs in the barn.
I would consider using it if I could make it dry quickly. I plan to try some on some scrap concrete tomorrow and see what it does.
As to the smell- I really like it! When I use BLO in the shop, I always love the odor- it takes me back to a furniture shop that I visited with my family when I was a wee lad.
more on linseed and concrete
I did a bit off googling for linseed oil and concrete- it is indeed well acknowledged as a concrete treatment. Who woulda thunk!
"Linseed Oil is also a valuable tool in the preservation of concrete. An application of linseed oil, penetrates the surface of the concrete forming barrier to water. It stabilises the surface of the concrete, reduces the formation of dust and prevents corrosive breakdown of the steel reinforcing rods. "
I found this navy document that suggests 60/40 linseed/mineral spirits:
http://www.ccb.org/docs/ufgshome/pdf/09981.pdf#search='linseed%20concrete'
and the flax council (no kidding) says:
"Linseed oil effectively preserves concrete surfaces, naturally. A coating prevents destructive water and salts from penetrating concrete. It stabilizes the smooth concrete surfaces in parking structures, bridges and concrete buildings, and prevents the breakdown of reinforcing steel.
A testing program completed at the University of Hong Kong in 1996, proved conclusively that linseed oil-based preservatives extend and enhance the life of concrete. Linseed oil-based preservatives have significant potential in areas such as Hong Kong and other parts of southeast Asia. These regions have high concentrations of real estate which is principally concrete. "
So- maybe a few gallons of mineral spirits and my free BLO will serve me well. I'll experiment with this.
E.E. Zimmerman makes a commercial linseed based concrete treatment:
"Linseed oil based sealing agent for new and old concrete surfaces. Protects concrete against damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles, salt and other de-icing chemicals. "
and this:
"...Cady suggests water-repellent, pore blocking and barrier coating sealers as most suitable for highway use to delay the onset of deicer scaling and reinforcement corrosion. Based on Cady’s survey of highway agencies, the most frequently used sealers are (in percent used or approved) silane (33%), epoxy (15%), siloxane (14%), synthetic gum resins (10%), and linseed oil (9%)."
Thanks, folks