Consolidation of wood

I like to know what kind of experience any one has had with linseed
oil in turpentine and paint thinner as a wood consolidant. How does
it effect the wood? Is this an older method of wood consolidation
coming out of the field of furniture conservation? Does it
effectively strengthen deteriorated wood, or on the contrary, have
an adverse effect on wood?

Does it being its a drying oil obtained from the seeds of the flax--
another words a natural product--attract insects and moisture? One
of its qualities is that it dries into a hard film. How does it,
mixed with turpentine, dry on the wood and what kind of an effect
does it have? does it cross-link with anything?

Does it hold up under extreme external temperature fluctuations?
Once this mixture has been applied (and how is it applied--brushing,
immersion?), is it easy to remove, reverse?

In modern conservation practice (and theory) Butvar B-98  and
Acryloid B-72 have been found to be the more effective treatment
methods for wood conservation of very deteriorated wood. Both are of
synthetic nature; therefore also their bonding abilities are better,
stronger than a natural product, I assume.

Michelle C. Messinger
Curator
State of California
916-651-6954


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:14
                  Distributed: Friday, August 3, 2001
                       Message Id: cdl-15-14-010
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