Linseed oil build up on dance floor.

[decland]

How can a build up of Linseed Oil be removed from a dance floor. It has created a sticky surface which is very difficult to dance on. Resurfacing is not an option. Is there a better option to linseed oil which has been applied for years probably every year with a mixture of turps and water a third of each.

[FenceFurniture]

By resurfacing do you mean sanding back? I doubt you'd be able to anyway because the polymerised oil would just create lumps on the abrasive which would prevent it from contacting.

The only thing I can think of is to wash it with ammonia which could take many applications. I use 2% ammonia in water to wash my hard floors, and it's a brilliant grease cutter. It's probably only a 0.1% solution that I use, and you'd need stronger than that (and a half face mask). When I first oiled the back deck I used to wash it with the same solution to get the possum pee of it, and it stripped off the (dried) decking oil.

[China]

Whatever prompted some one to apply linseed oil to a dace floor

[Mobyturns]

Why not just spread sawdust over the floor and give it a good work over with a stiff broom? The old dance floor "pops" were just sawdust with various additives to modify the "speed" of the floor.

Before attacking the floor with any product it would be wise to get the owners permission to do so first.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/12125459/Ballroom-dancers-kicked-out-of-local-hall-in-row-over-slippery-floors.html

[hurcorh]

@China Probably a bunnings rep or something. :D

[justonething]

You can use a mixture of solvent paint stripper and methylated spirit. Then scrape or wash it off

[AngelaPetruzzi]

As a dancer and you say sticky then it is not the actual surface coating that is sticky or tacky is it? For rock n roll we sometimes use talcum powder to slip better. If this is the case, then light sanding back with a buffing machine and some screen mesh in #80 grit should remove the layer on top. It does not sand back into the timber. Burnish in some wax and that may help with your dancing.

[decland]

The linseed has built up over the years with no one using the dance floor and still the linseed has been applied. Years ago when the hall was used for dancing sawdust or danso or something was applied to give it slip and the use would have worn away the linseed layer. About 2 months ago someone decided to apply another 3 coats??? Now its almost unusable. Although it has improved by washing the floor with turps/vinager/water mix. The timber is jarrah and it is almost a black colour on the edges where there is no or little traffic. i think it needs sanding back but at this stage its not an option. We teach ballroom elsewhere and use the hall for our practice and private lessons.

[AngelaPetruzzi]

Sanding back would certainly fix the issue but if it has improved somewhat with washing with various 'stuff" maybe continue. Have you considered diluting paint thinner? Maybe a bit more aggressive. Try in a corner first though.