Tried and True BLO brand is touted as being prepared the OLD way
without chemical driers. This is contrary to your "BLO has always had
metallic dryers. It's just that the lead dryers of the old school BLO
have been replaced by less toxic cobalt and manganese." Comment?

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 11:47:35 -0500, Hax Planx
wrote:

J. Clarke says...

And that it is in fact linseed oil that has been boiled and not some
chemist's nightmare that is sold under that label. Don't assume--make
sure.

BLO has always had metallic dryers. It's just that the lead dryers of
the old school BLO have been replaced by less toxic cobalt and
manganese. Boiling was necessary to dissolve the lead dryer.
Manganese and cobalt aren't toxic at low levels. Even cyanide isn't
toxic at low enough levels. At high levels over long periods of time
cobalt can cause an enlarged thyroid and manganese can interfere with
iron uptake. By far the greatest danger with these metals is breathing
the dust in a work environment where exposure amounts are off the
charts. Ingesting small amounts or even handling it in its pure form
occasionally is not dangerous. Finishes contain tiny amounts of the
driers and when it cures the driers are locked into the finish, but even
if you tipped the can and chugged it, the metallic driers wouldn't be
what made you sick.