Boiled Linseed Oil is used to condition and protect wooden handles from the elements, and to protect steel blades from rust.
To keep your tools in top condition, Sneeboer recommends treating wooden-handled tools twice a year. One of those times should be at the end of the season before you put them away for the winter. All brand new Sneeboer wooden handles should be oiled before you use them the first time.
You can also find boiled linseed oil in Sneeboer's Tool Maintenance Kit which contains everything you need to keep your tools in top condition: boiled linseed oil, tool sharpener, brass wire cleaning brush and cloth.
Warning: incorrect storage of boiled linseed oil and rags/cloths used for application can lead to spontaneous combustion. Please don't forget about it/them and leave it/them in an unsuitable environment.
PLEASE READ MORE ABOUT SAFE HANDLING & STORAGE BELOW
- total length: 8.4" (21.5)
- weight: 1.1 lbs (0.5kg)
- it is best applied with a rag or buffing cloth
- gloves should be worn at all times during the handling and application process
- first, clean your tools thoroughly with a Sneeboer brass wire brush to remove dirt and gunk
- rub it into the wood straight up and down the grain
- thin coatings work best, as thicker application coatings can take longer to dry and get sticky or gummy
- it may take between 24-72 hours for boiled linseed oil to fully cure, or feel dry out to the touch
How to care for your Sneeboer Tools
Watch the video below and check out our Tool Maintenance Kit and Tool Sharpener.
About Boiled Linseed Oil
- boiled linseed oil has not actually been boiled, but is chemically modified with metallic solvents for faster drying times
- it is different from standard or raw linseed oil which can take weeks to dry, sometimes longer
- it is not a surface treatment, but soaks deeply into the wood fibres and can transform old, worn out and dried wood to its former glory
- it helps preserve metal, by protecting the surface from oxidation
- thin coatings work best, as thicker application coatings can take longer to dry and get, sticky or gummy
Safe Handling Tips
- store in cool a cool, dry location out of direct sunlight
- after applying, lay rags/cloths flat on a non-flammable surface (concrete is best), away from potential heat/flame sources, until dry.
- the oil and completely dry rags/cloths can be stored in a metal container
- never scrunch up and discard wet rags/cloths used to apply the oil as this can be a huge fire risk if they heat up; in which case they can be a lot more heat reactive and combustible due to lack of air ventilation to cool the oil down
The Sneeboer family has been making garden tools for over 100 years. Sneeboer tools are beautifully designed and built for maximum strength and utility - the heads are hand-forged from one piece of stainless steel and they are fitted with ash handles from FSC-certified forests.