Linseed or Tung oil? Lee Enfield no.4 mk1

TransAm1991

TransAm1991

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I have done a fair bit of online searching, and honestly, it's an even amount between the two, and most sites, one contradicting the other..

So, whats the best to use?
I have both in my possesion, Boiled linseed, and I have a tin of Minwax Tung oil.
 
I used linseed on my no.5, although the stock was mint in the first place, it came out rather well. It was more of a touch up though to restore lustre, rather then bring back the wood.
 
Tung Oil is better for water repellancy. Neither is good for blocking water moisture. BLO ages nicely and darkens. Tung Oil, not so much.
 
greyman441 said:
Yes........


If you plan on restoring it then use linseed oil. You asked what its like for water repellency... its all right but not great but, when do you plan on leaving it outside??
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I plan on taking it hunting, in case I get stuck in the rain, or something.
It's probably going to sit in a gun case most likely 330 days out of the year.
 
"...going to sit in a gun case most likely 330 days..." That'd be an invitation to rust. Then the milsurp gods will do more than smite your carcass. snicker. Buy a trigger lock and store it out of the case. You should be practicing with it regualarly anyway.
Tung oil was used on Asian ocean going boats for centuries to waterproof 'em. Using several coats, applied over several days and properly rubbed in, it will give you a hard, waterproof, finish that keeps everything out. However, if your rifle is still in full military configuration, use the BLO. BLO doesn't give a waterproof finish, but it'll do to protect the wood.
 
use BLO

get a rag, apply oil rub on wood

thats it, infantry proof :D

anything else and I fear you may be in for a smiteing by the milsurp gods


oh and carefully dispose of your oily rag ;)
 
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woodchopper said:
use BLO

get a rag, apply oil rub on wood

thats it, infantry proof :D

anything else and I fear you may be in for a smiteing by the milsurp gods


oh and carefully dispose of your oily rag ;)
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Funny enough, I asked a gun nut at a carpentry shop we're doing work at..

He told me, be careful you don't ball the rag up and throw it in the corner.. Soak it in water, let it dry, then dispose of it..

He also tried to sell me a pre 1930 Winchester 1893 in 30-30.. How tempting.
 
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No one mentioned that boiled linseed oil takes for ever and 2 days to dry.
Raw linseed oil seems to dry quicker and I think has a nicer lustre.
Linseed oil has been protecting rifles from water, and everything else, for what, two hundred years? Why do you worry so much about water?
Tung oil is soooo much easier to apply. Rub it on with your hands, in a very few hours it will be ready for another coat. Five coats are pretty good, eight coats is much better.
Seems to me it is completely waterproof, for any rainy condition you will be out in.
 
TransAm1991 said:
And the process of installing the previously mentioned linseed oil?
Can it go on right out of the bottle, or is there some kind of trick?
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The fellow I purchased my No4 wood from I would consider an expert, he hand rubbed BLO into the stock...as in with the palm of his hand. So much so his hand was stained but wow what a finish:D
 
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