Wives tale or what.

[SwampDonkey]

Gary, I guess I'll have to look in the store. I've got about 20 cans of every kind of paint and stain I can imagine and Linseed oil is not an ingredient in any of it.  Any that might have had it have been either replaced with modern Alkyds or has something to keep stuff from growing on it. ;) Other than that, it's used on food safe bowls (most often boiled Linseed) with nothing added, not to be set outside in the elements.  ;D

[Gary_C]

If you go back and Google linseed oil as I just did, you will find some interesting things. Pure untreated and refrigerated linseed oil is also used as a nutritional supplement as it is high in omega-3.

Also you could conclude that straight untreated vegetable oil is not suitable as a sealer as it is very slow drying and is fodder for mildew. However what is sold as boiled linseed oil is an excellent and cheap wood sealer, but not a top coat. As one reference said, if you were sealing a mile of wood fence, boiled linseed oil would be a good choice because of the lower price. The problem is that people that are searching for a more natural product should know the additives in boiled linseed oil used to speed drying and prevent mildew contain metalic salts such as chromimum and arsenic. 

And yes, it is used as a base in many paints as it is the cheapest and yet high performing base available. However in some paints it has been replaced by better and more expensive products.

So the answer to your original question is yes and no. Just plain vegetable oil would not perform well, but processed vegatable oils such as boiled linseed oil would work, but not provide any UV resistance.

[TexasTimbers]

Gary thanks. That is exactly the kind of detailed information I was looking for.

In a little twist, I recently (last year) tried a concoction of pure coconut oil, flaxseed (linseed) oil, and a couple of other ingredients which was touted as a "diabetes cure all" if a certain regimen was followed which also included some moderate excercise. I already get more physical excercise working than alot of people add to their lifestyle, but I stuck to the dietary supplements fairly strictly.
It did lower my glucose levels significantly. The linseed oil tastes great to me. I still use it on my eggs, cottage cheese, and fish. It has a nutty/fishy taste and I love fish. The fishier taste the better. I often just open the fridge in the morning and pop the plastic top on the squeeze bottle and shoot a nice amount straight into my mouth and swallow the stuff. It nearly makes my wife puke.

So maybe I should use the  linseed oil as a sealer, and when my sugars get a little high I could always take a bite out of my fence as I walk by to control my levels. Hey that would cover my fiber needs for the whole week too I bet! Plus, with all the resin in the ERC pickets, I would probably kill any parasites lurking unkown in my system as well. We might be onto something here fellows. ;D

[SwampDonkey]

I've been using flaxseed (linseed or Huile de Lin is french) oil for years in my diet. Dad also uses it in the form of crushed flax in cereal and bread and he also uses the coconut oil on crackers. He is diabetic, but doesn't need medication or insulin. Salmon and herring have the Omega fatty acids in their oils as well, 3 and 6 both.  ;D

[TexasTimbers]

I love to gobble cod liver oil too. Straight out of the bottle. I just don't keep it in stock regular like I should. I don't like the pills because they make me belch and I don't like the taste of it that way. Love it goin down though.

[solodan]

Linseed oil is pretty much all that is used on decks out this way. If you presure wash a deck and re apply  a coat of oil every few years, a redwood deck will last forever. I actually prefer to use Penefin which is 90% rosewood oil, I think it penetrates better, and does not get dark like the linseed oil gets. All of the top brand  deck and siding sealers sold out here are linseed or rosewood oil formulas, but they are not cheap. They are usually around $30 a gallon. :

[SwampDonkey]

Where you buying your stuff? I haven't seen paint or stain for less than $30 a gallon in years here. I also ain't seen pure linseed oil used on nothing outside. I never seen a natural product used in pure form that didn't rot. The whole notion stinks rotten. ;D

[turningfool]

hey kev...i use nothing but veggie oil to seal my turnings..it works very well for me..but! remember..you just want to seal it not drown it..every little bit of oil must be removed from the wood..it does indeed seal it nicely tho for me..if anyone needs proof of this look in my gallery..all were sealed with corn oil,then after all excess oil was removed i used a padding laquer which is applied directly on the lathe while it spins to give them their luster..i have had turning around that i had done years earlier with no after effects..note: the wood must be dry as  water does not mix with oil ;D

[limbrat]

Go check out your wooden cooking spoons they have had cooking oil in them since they were first used. It dont all wash out bet they aint rancid.

When i finish a batch of spoons i throw them in hot clean oil then wipe them down and run them through the dish washer never had a bit of problem.

[IMERC]

guess the OP needs to run the fence thru the dishwasher after the veggie oil application to keep the rancid down...

[Part_Timer]

It would be to expensive for a fence but I use almond oil on my cutting boards and turnings.  I also started making some new shop cabinets out of Ash and sealed it in almond oil.  It will take a few more coats but I like it