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Silicone and Linseed Oil

·410 words·2 mins·
Life Machine Translation

For the past two weeks, my family members have been busy with their own affairs, and I finally have more time to organize my living space. Doing things LLMs can’t help me with.

Silicone
#

I’ve only bought silicone three times in my life.

  • When I participated in the Si-Yuan Science and Creativity Competition in high school, I found that anything that leaked when glued with hot melt adhesive could be solved with silicone.
  • When I first moved to Singapore, I put a blackboard on the wall in my room, attached a plastic cable tray to serve as a chalk rail, and applied silicone to protect the gaps from chalk dust.
  • Yesterday, I DIYed a transparent food waste fermentation barrel, gluing a hydraulic bottle to a plastic barrel and using silicone to prevent air leakage.

I used it more frequently in high school, and each time, I’d feel unwell afterward. In Singapore, I tried to avoid direct skin contact, but ultimately, my bare hands were indispensable, and I again felt unwell the following day. Just yesterday, an attempt to apply it with a syringe failed, leading me to use my hands once more, with the same uncomfortable outcome.

Despite the discomfort, its effectiveness is undeniable. There’s no reason to give it up.

Linseed Oil
#

As far as I know, I’ve used it twice:

  • In high school art class, mixed with turpentine for oil painting.
  • This week, to wipe down the dining table and chair set I bought from IKEA.

The pine table and chair set I bought from IKEA were not varnished, so they felt light and were more absorbent than standard finishes, making me worried about leaving marks. So I bought 500cc of linseed oil from a chemical supply store, and this Saturday, I decided to tackle the task myself.

The process proved more challenging than expected. Initially, I intended to apply a thin layer with a paper towel, but the wood’s high absorbency necessitated a change to a BBQ brush, followed by wiping dry. To ensure thorough coverage, I had to invert the chairs onto the table to coat their undersides, avoiding the need to paint while lying on the floor. Even just four chairs consumed a significant amount of time; mass production would surely involve a quick dip in an oil bath.

I’d already used nearly 200cc of oil before even touching the table. While I had envisioned applying several thin coats, it now seems unnecessary.