Walnut oil?

[Z. Buck]

So somehow I missed the memo that walnut oil is a setting type oil until a couple weeks ago. Currently using it on a butcher block, unstained rock maple, only one coat so far but it is really absorbing well and making the grain pop and shine like nothing. Anyone have opinions on it's usefulness as a gun stock finish?

[galamb]

In an outdoor environment it is not as durable as linseed oil.

You ARE using it for one of it's best uses - in contact with any wood that you want to protect that comes in direct contact with food - you can "eat" the stuff   (a little better/longer lasting than soy or canola oil on cutting boards, butcher blocks etc).

I don't know if you could improve it's durability if used outdoors by adding anything to it - perhaps someone else can chime in here.

[bob in the woods]

I use a mixture of walnut oil and beeswax on gunstocks and have used it on my table that spends a lot of time outdoors. It has stood up well.  Just make sure you give it lots of sunlight , which will help with the drying .I think it makes an outstanding finish on my pine furniture.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

i used to use raw walnut oil to finish redwood burl coffee tables. It is beautiful!

[Hungry Horse]

 All I know about walnut oil, is what I learned in a art history course in college. Early artists, tried walnut oil, in place of linseed oil, in their paint mixtures, and found it never dried, when applied to a surface that was effectively sealed, like a sized, and gessoed, canvas.

                Hungry Horse

[eddillon]

Makes wonderful salad dressing.   

[KentSmith]

I used walnut oil on a rifle I built in the 90's.  Beautiful finish but hunting in the snow rubbed most of the wrist area off.  Didn't try cooking it with lead or resin like I do linseed oil. 

Many old violins were finished with walnut oil based varnish, cooked in a similar fashion to linseed oil varnishes.  I do not know any that were plain walnut oil finish.  And I don't know anyone who hunted in the elements with a violin.

[Virginiarifleman]

if I played the Violin in the woods........things would definitely fall over.but ive never fiddled around with walnut oil as stain.