Bye bye BLO....

[Mugz]

How much of a cost differential Joe?
But, your findings have got me to consider this change as well....

THANKS for sharing!!!

[BigFish]

Joe how long were you soaking your plugs in the BLO for?? I find one minute (ayc) is more than sufficient! I do not have any odor afterwards.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Joe how long were you soaking your plugs in the BLO for?? I find one minute (ayc) is more than sufficient! I do not have any odor afterwards.

15 minutes, I'm sure 1 minute is enough, cedar doesnt need much protection... we'll see.. I may go back.. you never know unless you try.. it is alot more expensive than BLO... but if it makes a better product... fine if not... I'll go back as BLO is a proven method...

[BigFish]

I tested soaking times between 1 minute and 1 hour at different intervals and found no more penetration from 1 minute to 1 hour......I have never had any water intrusion, cracking, peeling or lifting paint! The true test for me came when I lost one of my plugs over Cuttyhunk....went back over 4 weeks later and Afterhours found the plug wrapped around a pot line in the water...for 4 weeks it was submerged! Almost all the paint had been worn off by the rocks ( there was still some on and it was solid), there was no swelling, and no cracking anywhere particularly at the belly grommet and belly weight area....no cracking at all! I was sold! Could post pics of the plug later? Oh....and 1 eye was missing!

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by BigFish

I tested soaking times between 1 minute and 1 hour at different intervals and found no more penetration from 1 minute to 1 hour......I have never had any water intrusion, cracking, peeling or lifting paint! The true test for me came when I lost one of my plugs over Cuttyhunk....went back over 4 weeks later and Afterhours found the plug wrapped around a pot line in the water...for 4 weeks it was submerged! Almost all the paint had been worn off by the rocks ( there was still some on and it was solid), there was no swelling, and no cracking anywhere particularly at the belly grommet and belly weight area....no cracking at all! I was sold! Could post pics of the plug later? Oh....and 1 eye was missing!

Cant ask for a better test than that... it's just an experiment.... like I said I'll give it a whirl... on the other hand, I've been walking this earth long enough not to put all my eggs in one basket.. half of each batch will still be sealed in BLO... I'm not in buisness so I have nothing to loose... only to gain.. at least my experiment gives us something to rehash one more time..
BTW... I picked Tung oil because after some research I found it has been sealing wood as long as BLO.. and is the main ingreediant in Water Lox which I know some guy's have been using for some time ....

[BigFish]

Nice if the tung oil hardens the wood a bit like you say Joe! I was just expressing my experience for others to digest! There are many sealers that work well and they all have their own + and -! It would get boring if we were not trying new things......right?