Paint

[wobs]

This summer has been a season of paint stripping on the south facing side of the house (and plenty of factor 30 on me). The windows upstairs have not been touched for years, and the board/brackets supporting the wooden gutter has many layers of gloss.

Thus far I have stripped most of it, and coated with linseed oil heated slightly on the camping stove.

And I have put some new putty in where required (a skill I seemed to have lost since I last did it).

Is there a preferred insulating material one could use to keep the linseed oil or paint warm in the paint kettle while up a ladder, as I don't really like going up and down too much (no snake references please). Or is it not worth trying?

 

[robgil]

surely it doesnt have to be that hot does it?

 

[Feltwell]

It is better if it's warm. How about using one of those cheap insulated "travel" mugs that you see? Pour the linseed oil once heated out of your kettle into one of these, they even have a lid to use if you pause for a moment.

This sort of thing:-

https://www.the-emporium.co.uk/product-detail/206503/thermos-thermocafe-0.4-litre-travel-mug-183344/

 

[wobs]

That's a good idea. Although I might look to see if there's a soup flask with a carry handle that I could attached an S hook to, as I'd be up a ladder.

 

[worms]

Remember to exercise suitable caution when warming the oil on the stove. I saw this is on another forum:

I use an electric hotplate, works well.

But never, ever without the can or metal container containing the oil, tar or wax placed in a pan of hot water like the large "double boiler" I show above.

Otherwise one minor bubble or splatter can light the oil can. Then when you try to smother the burning can containing the oil you usually tip the can over. Then you have an impressively large and fast oil fire difficult to put out.

Trust me you don't want to learn this one the hard way in a boat shop littered with dry shavings and wood.

Sounds like a story for Graham's top tips!

 

[Flyfisher]

I'd have a go at wrapping the paint kettle in old tea towels, or similar, and securing them with duct tape. That should keep the stuff warm enough for the time you want to spend up a ladder.

 

[biffvernon]

I only warm my linseed oil in the depth of winter.

 

[robgil]

cant you thin it down a bit? i use white spirits to water mine down.

 

[biffvernon]

Why?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I understood a bit of white spirit helped the absorption into the wood.

Have never tried it myself, admittedly.