Linseed oil, stain, or varnish?

[Tintin]

Hello,

I've got a wooden framework that sits in the cockpit that we stand on.

It was coated in a flaking plasticy dark brown goo, so I've stripped that off.

I'm not good with different types of wood, but its a hardwood of some description.

It is obviouslly an area of high wear, so I guess varnishing is out of the question (he asks hopefully, not looking forward to 7 or 8 coats and sanding down between).

I've got a load of boiled linseed oil left over from treating a slate hearth, so could I use that?

Or could I use a tough exterior decking product?

What do you recommend?

Thanks
chris

 

[Humblebee]

In the past I have used oil on the decking in my cockpit. It works well enough but does need re-doing every year or more often if I am feeling fussy.
The snag with oil is that if you apply too much it leaves a rather sticky residue on the surface - probably not unlike the one you have just scraped off. So I suggest a light coat, no more than soaks in and dries in an hour or so. Probably best done on a warm day to facilitate absorption.
A decking-type woodstain would undoubtedly give some durable protection but I have never much cared for the look of these stains. A bit artificial and twee, if you see what I mean.
Why not give the wood a treat and clean it up with wood cleaner (You'll find a lot of references to Oxalic Acid on this forum). Then a couple or three light coats with the linseed oil, not so much that it leaves pools or damp bits, but enough to coat the whole grating lightly and evenly. You can't go far wrong with that!
Good luck,
Chris

 

[xtiffer]

If it's teak then just clean it with oxalic acid solution and leave it.
A scrub down with salt water after sailing will keep it clean.
Oil of any sort is a magnet for dirt, dust, crumbs and spilled drinks.
Just think of it as a small peice of moveable deck.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[simonfraser]

i have thin laminated ply with mahogany on top, to keep the weight down.
this is ok on the benches but needs covering up with treadmaster on the floor as it is not durable enough after 10 years.

i have now painted the seats with Sikkens cetol marine wood-oil varnish
much easier to look after than varnish as it does not seem to flake
it's been on the transom for 2 years where nothing else lasted