paint and prime questions, exterior

[bighead]

Hello, I have read every post I could find on the subject but I still have some questions. We have a 106 year old Queen Anne Victorian that badly needs a paint job. We started the prep work this week. The porch railing has been scraped and sanded but the wood looks very dry. What I would like to do is use linseed oil on it, but if I get oil on surfaces that still have good paint on the will my oil based primer adhere properly?

Also, I have read that all I need to prime are the bare spots on my siding. I would prefer to put a coat of primer on everything, siding trim and all. Is that ok? The scraping is slow going, but I am leery of using a power washer. I am worried about dry time now that the temps are in the 70s. What do you think?

Any and all answers and suggestions appreciated.

Roger

[Joe Bobst]

Linseed oil is good for antique walnut gun stocks and not much else. Modern paint chemistry has made a lot of progress since the 19th century and it's wise to take advantage of it. It might be a good idea to keep on with the prep work while you research your painting scheme. Plan on talking to real paint store professionals and do a lot of reading before you pick up a brush. By next spring you will be better informed and are far more likely to efficiently get the job done. Ask the paint store people if a good oil based primer wouldn't be the best thing for bare wood as you proceed. That's always worked for me. HTH

Joe