I haven't used linseed oil, but recently discovered the merits of lanolin as
a rust proofer.

I feel like the last person to find out that lanolin has been used for years
(millennia?) as a rust proofing treatment. If you do a web search using
"fluid film" you will find a few companies making a lanolin based product.

As an aside, I found one source stating that the much venerated "Cosmolene"
was a mixture of petroleum jelly and lanolin.

Anyway, in an effort to prevent rust forming on my edge tools during the
moist winter, I made up my own mix using a jar of anhydrous lanolin I have
had kicking around for years (another dope slap self administered - I have
used the stuff on the threads of galvanised shackles to prevent them from
seizing in salt water, why it didn't dawn on me to use it as a rust
preventative I'll never know!).

I dissolved some lanolin in naphtha, It doesn't solubilise completely, but a
little lanolin goes a long way. I paint the liquid on my chisels, knives,
drill bits etc, and the naphtha evaporates leaving a film of lanolin behind.
It is a relatively sticky film which doesn't evaporate. Obviously the more
lanolin in the mix the more will be left behind and the stickier the metal
surface will be.

I don't suggest spraying a naphtha mixture on the van, will have to find a
less volatile carrier. Maybe some kind of oil will work.

Anyway, it works very well on tools, I recommend it completely.

List members in sheep country, and you know who you are, probably can get
the stuff (in the less refined form) in 55gal drums. I can imagine some
Australian van owners mixing up concoctions using fish oil and lanolin and
shipping the stuff across the line to the rusty north.

Alistair

albell@uvic.ca
'82 Westy, diesel=>I4 gas

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> From: Matthew Pollard <poll7356@UIDAHO.EDU>
> Reply-To: Matthew Pollard <poll7356@UIDAHO.EDU>
> Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2001 17:56:56 -0800
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Linseed Oil for rust proofing
>
> Has anybody done that? I've sloshed linseed oil inside bike tubes for
> rustproofing, but i just heard about painting the underside of the bus
> with it for rustproofing...
> cheers
>
>
> Matthew Pollard          "Racing with the wind and flirting with death
> Dept. Of Chemistry        So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath"
> University of Idaho
> www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356
>