When I asked about cleaning up dirty old wooden tongues, double & single trees, etc, lots of folks replies and several also recommended linseed oil. Here's a big secret. I've found the "professionals" (museums, carriage restorers, etc., use food grade mineral oil. Linseed oil darkens wood very much. Food grade mineral oil does not. It soaks in wonderfully, and does NOT mess up old paint such as stenciling, painted maker's names, etc. I buy it locally, STE Oil Co, San Marcos, TX, and I've found it is cheaper than Linseed oil too. Less than $20 per gallon, compared to Linseed at about $23 plus shipping. Just sayin . . . kelly

and mineral oil on the shelf for colic/impacted colon doesn't hurt either!

Thanks for this info. Yes, linseed will darken over time. Will mineral oil preserve the wood?

Vicki, any oil helps preserve wood. Wooden furniture that is hundreds of years old in Europe has mostly been preserved by oil. Food grade mineral oil is the same stuff used on cutting boards. It isn't perfectly waterproof, but is great for wood. kelly