Anyone with knowledge of Victorian-era (and earlier) floor finishing techniques?

[IrishAyes]

X-Posted from 'DIY & Home Improvement':

Even though it will be awhile before I can actually get my downstairs wood floors worked on, I need to ramp up my research efforts now. I'm really grateful for all the encouragement received from DUers not that long ago about the future potential for saving these floors, which some previous resident had topped with a lot of glue to hold down cheap, hideous carpeting. I had the carpet ripped off but a lot of the glue had soaked into the unsealed wood floor.

Anyway, I remember reading somewhere several years ago about a heritage technique which involved a homemade mixture of something with something else like linseed oil(?) and it was supposed to create an extremely tough finish. Unfortunately that's all I remember, and I can't seem to find information anymore that rings a bell.

I follow apartmenttherapy.com and have been reminded that people way back when used to paint their floors more often than not. I might go that route but it would remain my second choice. A recent stroke of luck: the local hardware store has plans to offer floor sanders for rent this year. I dreaded having to buy one of my own, because the nearest place to rent one before was almost 100 miles away. Yes, if you haven't heard already, I retired wayyyy out in the sticks.

[Sedona]

1. good resourses here

http://hardwoodfloorsmag.com/forum/


http://www.floormasters.com/


(from a former flooring pro's old hangouts)

[IrishAyes]

2. Thanks very much.

[ljm2002]

3. I don't know much about floor finishes in particular...

...but I do have one wood finish recommendation you might want to look at. We used it for a high chair that we bought new and unfinished. That high chair was used for 3 children and in spite of all the spills and punishment, it never needed refinishing and never got stained.

The finish consisted of equal parts linseed oil, turpentine and beeswax. It left the natural wood color, had a nice soft smooth feeling surface, and just stood up to all sorts of punishment.

Sounds like you may have some issues with the glue discoloration though. Hopefully it did not soak in too deep, and a sanding will reveal wood without the glue soaked into it.