Linseed Oil vs. Wood Stain vs. Teak Oil, which one is better?

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Whether used indoors or outdoors, wood structures and furniture made of natural timber will require a minimum of a protection to avoid:

Insect attacks
Change in the timber natural color, even indoors
Increase wood resistance to humidity or weathering

This tutorial provides a comparison between three wood protection coatings, linseed oil, wood stain and teak oil, describing the Pros and Cons of each and when and how to use them.

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Using linseed oil (Danish Oil) for wood protection

Use boiled linseed oil in the following cases:

You have allergy to petroleum based products and their strong odors
Indoors in general, but it works outdoors also
If you don't want to change the color (tint) of your wood, just give it a clean and satin finish
As a pre-primer, intended to protect the wood from insects until you paint your wood and apply the primer, meaning linseed oil can also be painted over once dry and well absorbed by the timber.

Just apply your boiled linseed oil with a brush or paint roller, can be used both indoors and outdoors.
The first time you apply linseed oil on raw and new wood, it will last less than a year, but will last longer and longer each time you recoat your wood. Linseed oil can be applied over previously stained wood.

Apply the danish oil to the wood freely but methodically.
The oiled area will turn dark immediately making it easy for you to know where you already painted.
The result should be homogeneous and every single corner or edge covered.

Wait 24 hours before use outdoor and 36 hours indoor

Buy your linseed oil from our partners' stores, some products are 100% natural, check the label and specs:

Using wood stain to protect wood

Wood stain is a 2-in-1 product that protects raw new wood while giving it the color or tint that you wish.
It could last up to 2 years in harsh climates and 5 years in moderate climates.
It also depends on the timber, and its own resistance to weathering.
Dilute your wood stain with 10% solvent prior to use and mix well, then apply with a brush or paint roller.
Can be used over previously stained wood or lighter color. If the previous stain is damaged, the surface must be sanded first, then the slightly darker wood stain applied.

This wooden awning was renovated. The new wooden planks will be protected with a dark stain in order to bring their color to the one of the top planks. The second coat will be applied to both old and new planks in order to have the same color on all:

This outdoor wooden structure used a combination of new and used wooden planks, before all were tinted with the same dark wood stain to unify the color and appearance. A dye was mixed with the stain to reach the desired color:

Buy your wood stain from our partners' stores, some products are 100% natural, check the label and specs:

Using Teak oil to protect wood

Teak oil should be used only on Iroko and Teak timbers. This is because it is more expensive than wood stain and linseed oil, thus its use on expensive and valuable timbers.
Never use wood stain on Teak or Iroko.
You may use linseed oil on these two, but it won't be as lasting as the teak oil.
Application of teak oil is identical to other oils, i.e. by the means of any brush or paint roller.
This window has an iroko weather resistant frame, which can be protected with any of the linseed or teak oil. Teak furniture should be protected with teak oil.

Buy your wood oils here, some products are 100% natural, check the label and specs:

Linseed Oil vs. Wood Stain vs. Teak Oil, which one is better?

Using linseed oil (Danish Oil) for wood protection

Using wood stain to protect wood

Using Teak oil to protect wood

See also our other tutorials in relation with this one...