On Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:56:09 GMT, "Colin Jacobs"
wrote:

Please could someone tell me the benefits of Boiled Linseed oil.

None.

Linseed yellows with age, is hard to apply and doesn't give a
hard-wearing surface. For general workshop use you're probably better
with a commercial Danish oil (like Liberon's), a long oil varnish mix.
For better work with oil finishes then use a commercial blended
finishing oil based on Tung oil.

For outdoor garden furniture, go with a commercial product with UV
sunlight resistance. I like the Australian Organoil range from
Axminster.

As always, don't apply oil too thickly or it will dry tacky and be a
problem to fix. In this weather just re-coat quickly with thin coats
instead - won't take long at all.

I am
currently fitting out a new workshop & am looking to treat the wood with a
preservative.

What against ? Oils have minimal protective qualities and no
preservative quality. If you want to protect the surface, go for the
oil+varnish mixes. If you want a minimally invasive finish, then use a
blended finishing oil (maybe with Danish oil over it), but don't expect
a pure oil finish to form an impervious skin over the timber.

You shouldn't need a preservative in a workshop, just fix the source of
damp or bugs instead. But if you do, maybe on timbers from a leaky roof,
then look at the commercial mixes of Fungal Death Brew.