How to Make Your Own Wood Preservative

Wood for outdoor use is pressure treated with hazardous chemicals. Wood preservatives sold in stores are also made out of hazardous chemicals. You can avoid these nasty chemicals by making your own wood preservative at home with charcoal and linseed oil. Linseed is a natural, slow drying oil that can be bought raw or boiled. Boiled linseed oil dries more quickly and is more manageable but does contain some chemicals. Choose between raw or boiled linseed oil and make your own wood preservative at home.

Charcoal
Plastic bag
Mallet
Measuring cup
Bucket
Boiled linseed oil
Paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Place several lumps of charcoal into a heavy duty plastic bag. Crush the charcoal with a mallet into a semi-fine dust.
- 2
  Pour the charcoal dust into a measuring cup. Measure 1 cup and pour into a bucket.
- 3
  Pour linseed oil into a measuring cup. Measure 2 cups of linseed oil and pour into a bucket.
- 4
  Mix the charcoal and linseed oil with a stir stick. Apply the mixture to wood with a paint brush. It will be like spreading oil with sand suspended in it.
- 5
  Wait a day and apply another coat to the wood. Wait 24 or more hours for the second coat to dry before exposing it to the elements.

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