Tom-

While working with the National Trust Restoration Workshop, we would treat
wood which had a surface which was friable from UV degradation but not in
need of epoxy consolidation with the 1/1 boiled linseed application. I
believe I first read about hte treatment in a Forest Products Lab.
publication in 1979. In any case, I painted the weather boards on the 1900
addition of my house (bare and friable wood which had not been painted in 40
years prior to my purchase) following this treatment. That was 14 years ago
and I have not had any problems with paint adhesion. I have also revisited
several of the projects which we did at the Trust Workshop, and there do not
appear to be any problems with paint adhesion. As far as I am aware, there is
no chemical bonding of paint to wood, but mechanical adhesion, which is why
paint will fail on a friable surface. Hope this helps (or at least stirs up a
discussion).

Twybil