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A natural oil, linseed oil color is anywhere between clear to yellowish when extracted from ripened dried seeds. Although both; linseed oil and flaxseed oil are extracted from the same flax seed, their treatment plays a vital role in deciding the use of the output. Linseed is heated and treated using chemicals, whereas flaxseed oil is more of a raw, cold-pressed linseed oil. Linseed oil uses are enormous, some of them have been listed below.

Linseed Oil Benefits
Nutritionally linseed oil is full of large quantities of vitamin B complex, zinc, lecithin and a large amount of omega-3 fatty oils, as compared to any other plant source. Besides health benefits, linseed oil has resolvent properties, which means it is capable of dissolving other substances, thereby making it highly useful for industrial applications.

Uses of Linseed Oil

Nutritional Supplement
Flax seed oil is highly nutritious in its raw, cold-pressed form. It contains high levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid known for reducing inflammation of the arteries and helping in prevention of coronary heart diseases and arrhythmia. It also contains vitamin B, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, fiber, protein, zinc, and omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids. With such a load of natural properties, the cardiovascular system, nervous system, immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, and almost every body organ can benefit immensely from it. High alpha linolenic flaxseed oil has been granted the status of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the FDA. Read more on:

• Benefits of Flaxseed Oil
• Flaxseed Oil Benefits for Women

Industrial Applications
The floor covering linoleum is made of ingredients such as wood dust, pine resin, wood flour, cork particles and other materials which are bound or held together with linseed oil. Putty, a sealant used for glass windows is also made of linseed oil mixed with chalk powder.

Linseed oil has been extensively used as an important drying oil, since ages. A common carrier in oil paint, it has the capacity to make the paints more fluid and transparent. Its various form; cold pressed, alkali refined, polymerised, etc are used in the oil painting medium, for it has good endurance. However, since it kind of yellows the paintings, painters avoid using this oil as a carrier oil while using bright colors. But a better form, like the sun bleaching makes the oil clear and transparent, when subjected to refining and bleaching process.

As a coat for wood finish, linseed oil gets soaked into the wood pores making the wood appear shiny, and yet retaining the wood surface to show its distinct grains. Unlike varnish that tends to drip or get lumpy, linseed oil smoothens the wooden surfaces. Linseed treated wood is resistant to denting and scratches. Most wear and tear damages can be treated with a re-application of the linseed oil. It is a traditionally favored wood finish, used as a protective coating for the raw willow wood of cricket bats, or billiards or pool cue shafts and wood furniture. Products coated with linseed oil retain high quality and durability.

Boiled Linseed Oil
Even though the name is suggestive of linseed oil being boiled, it is actually not boiled. When certain additional solvents are added to linseed oil to dry it up more quickly, it is known as boiled linseed oil. Boiled linseed oil uses include it being a natural wood finish and preservative, increased durability, quality of finish and resistant to surface damage. Some grades of linseed oil are also mixed with mineral spirits.

Linseed oil uses outdo quite a number of other oils. And it is easily available as a dietary supplement (high alpha linolenic flaxseed oil) in most health stores, and as a paint binder and wood polish in hardware stores.