Hi

I'm looking for some information about conservation of wood in medieval times.
Right now I'm using linen oil and wax, but I will be more than happy to learn something new.

If someone could give me some advice/ information, I will really appreciate it.

Thanks

I'm not sure it's really medieval but the use of pine tar was very wide spread in Finland in the 19th century and the first records of distilling tar are from the 17th century. It was exported a lot for a while. Next what comes to mind is simply the use of any animal grease. That method has been around for a while. :D

Just to clarify are you looking for medieval methods of wood preservation or are you looking for ways to stabalize medieval wood in the present day?

Or are you asking about finishes applied to wooden objects such as furniture? Lots of wood was left unfinished, some was painted, and I have seen claims that beeswax may have been used.

There may be something buried in here. I have stumbled on some interesting exchanges. The archive is searchable. Many conservators going back and forth.
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/

A government site on contemporary methods. There are more like this.
http://w3.gsa.gov/web/p/hptp.nsf/

I'm seeing some good hits via Google for historic woodworking sites. From tooling to finishes.

There is a lot of wooden structure and machinery still around from the middle ages. I imagine a lot has to do with wood type and climate but they must also have had some use for preservatives.

Cheers

GC

One place to start might be linseed oil. It was produced and used for a variety of purposes (paints, etc.), and is still chosen by modern curators for some challenging projects such as preserving medieval ship wrecks recovered from oceans.

Just a tip...

If you want pure linseed oil, without petroleum distillates, get some flax seed oil from a health food store.

Thanks for the replays guys.
I know about a tar, Risto. The deferens is, that in my country, Poland, we are using birch not pine. It's called "Dziegiec".

I think that I was not specific enough. Sorry for that.

Let me explain.

Right now I'm working on a Ballock dagger handle. I was always using linseed oil and beeswax to conserve it. But after that the handle wasn't so shiny, It was little bit dull.
This time i wont to have a smooth, and very shiny handle, but it have to be historical as well.

If You can help me with that I will really appreciate it.

I think the key probably is polishing prior to applying the perservative rather than depending on the preservative to provide the luster.

Yep, a polish makes all the difference. I personally use this:
[ Linked Image ]

It's the most timesaving thing I have. It gives instant mirror finishes on anything, whether it's metal, wood, horn etc. Just make sure to use a different polishing bit on wood then on metal or it will stain the wood. Also don't press too hard, or the wood (or horn etc.) burns.

B.t.w. does anyone know how far the use lacquer (resin based) goes back in Europe? I know it's used in asia since ancient times, but I have absolutely no idea when it was introduced here.

quite late, I know for instance that dutch boats were still made durable with line oil and "harpuis" until approx 1900, and the design isn't all that old

Pine tar has been used as a wood preservative since the days of the vikings. Equal parts Beeswax, boiled linseed oil and pine tar (melt together in a double boiler, no open flames) is another old recipe.