[GSBN] earthen floor sealer in Haiti

[Bill Steen]

Quickly, I think that the thing that is good about linseed oil is that it not only seals the floor, but it also hardens the material.
So there are two issues that are being considered when we are talking about these kinds of floors.
But I can also say that we have also played around with other oils just to see if we could get satisfactory results in places where linseed oil is not available.
Basically, most oils will provide a decent measure of protection.  Can't remember which one it was, but whatever the cheapest oil was that we could find in the grocery store seemed acceptable.  So in trying to substitute other oils for linseed oil, I would keep it simple and avoid going through all sorts of mental gymnastics trying to go with some exotic option.

Bill
Bill Steen
bill at caneloproject.com
www.caneloproject.com
www.caneloproject.blogspot.com
HC1 Box 324
Elgin, AZ85611





On Mar 8, 2011, at 9:45 AM, Joyce Coppinger wrote:

> After the 1999 CASBA conference, we toured a house that had an earthen floor
> sealed with psyllium. Maybe Skilled-Means John or others who were on that
> tour can share more about this.
> 
> Joyce
> 
> 
> 
>> I know a little about this from my involvement in biofuel and as Derelict
>> wrote some oils are termed drying oils as they dry to a hard finish at
>> normal room temperature,
>> 
>> Dammar oil, from the Canarium strictum,
>> Linseed oil, used in paints, also suitable for human consumption.
>> Poppyseed oil, similar in usage to linseed oil but with better color
>> stability.
>> Stillingia oil (also called Chinese vegetable tallow oil), obtained by
>> solvent from the seeds of Sapium sebiferum.
>> Tung oil, used in wood finishing.
>> Vernonia oil is produced from the seeds of the Vernonia galamensis.
>> (Ironweed)
>> 
>> In addition to the oils listed here, walnut, sunflower and safflower oil are
>> also considered to be drying oils
>> 
>> regards
>> Chug
>> chug at strawbale-building.co.uk
>> http://www.strawbale-building.co.uk
>> . 
>> 
>> 
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