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This is the second blog post in our linseed oil paint series, and we’re talking linseed oil primers—specifically how to use them when painting historic window sashes, siding, or casing.

(For a more complete discussion of linseed oil paints in general, please see my other blog post here.)

Before any final coats, no matter what type of paint you’re using, you’ll need to first put a coating of primer.  You can find pre-mixed linseed oil primers from the Brouns & Co. website, or you can even make your own.  If you are a homeowner and new to restoration, I’d suggest using Brouns & Co.’s pre-mixed formula, found here on their website.

If you decide you want to make your own linseed oil primer there are two common formulas: one from Brouns & Co., and one from Earth + Flax.

Brouns & Co.’s Primer Formula (mixing instructions here)

• 50% linseed oil paint

• 35% raw, purified linseed oil

• 15% balsam turpentine

Earth + Flax’s Primer Formula

• 30% linseed oil paint

• 70% raw, purified linseed oil

Either combination will allow for strong penetration into the wood grain while giving you some of the benefits of modern linseed oil paints—such as early color saturation and mildew resistance (if your paint contains zinc oxide like in Brouns & Co.’s and Ottosson’s paints). 

Note that the Earth + Flax formula excludes the balsam turpentine to avoid the use of solvents.  The reason to use a solvent like balsam turpentine is to help speed the drying time.  If drying speed is not a consideration, then the Earth + Flax formula might be a better choice for you.  

Best of all, a little goes a long way. One small can may be enough to prime more than 20 window sashes, making it a budget-friendly solution for full-home restoration.

Pro tip: You can keep your brush soft and ready for the next day by storing it in linseed oil. Check out our earlier blog post on brush care for the how-to.