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Finishing Cedar with Earth and Flax

Using Earth + Flax as my guide helped me lean more deeply into natural finishes, trusting cedar to age well and using products that work with the wood instead of coating over it.
Keyword: linseed oil

Ingredients

  • Pine Tar + Linseed Oil Mixtures: For deeper tones more moisture/UV resistance, Earth + Flax’s “Authentic Pine Tar” mixed 50/50 with purified Viking Linseed Oil works well.
  • Dark Pine Tar and Linseed Oil. The darker the pine tar, the better UV protection. They say this mixture (equal parts pine tar + linseed oil) gives great wood preservation: UV protection, some antiseptic/insect repellent qualities.

Instructions

  • Surface Prep: Make sure cedar is clean, dry, and free of old coatings. Earth + Flax stresses that natural (barrier-forming) coatings must be removed so the wood can absorb oils properly.
  • Primer coat (optional but helpful): If cedar is very dry (new wood or pressure treated), first coat with purified linseed oil alone to help the wood drink. It helps later coats adhere deeper.
  • Mixing Pigment or Pine Tar: Mix pigment into linseed oil until smooth. For tar, the 50/50 pine tar + linseed oil mixture works.
  • Application: Use a stiff-bristle brush or clean rag. Apply thin, even coats. With pine tar mixtures, brush out drips, avoid thick pooling. Work in a temp of ~60°F or warmer so oil/tar spread well and dry.
  • Wipe Excess: After letting it soak for a short while (per Earth + Flax’s suggestions), wipe off excess oil/tar to avoid sticky or uneven surface finish.