I'm nearing the end of my relief carving project in black walnut, and I've just finished the carving and sanding process. I'm planning to treat the wood with boiled linseed oil (BLO). Additionally, I want to incorporate some paint and fine inlays. My questions are: will I face issues using glues on top of these accents with the BLO applied? Also, if I apply the inlays and paint before the BLO, will the oil stain those embellishments?
1 Answer
Using oil finishes like boiled linseed oil can sometimes highlight the difference between end grain and side grain, creating an unintended two-tone look since the oil soaks into the end grain more. I would recommend going with a wax-based finish instead, as it tends to avoid these issues. By the way, did you mean paint and inlays when you said 'pain and inlace'? Just a heads up, oil finishes can be tricky to manage around specific areas, so either mask those off or be prepared for some oil to get on them. Glue can reject the oil, but it's not reliable enough to act as a good mask. Tape could work better for you!
Do you have any recommendations for a specific wax-based product? I've got some Howard's beeswax and orange oil I could use.
Thanks for the tips!