oooh i dont even want to hear the rain excuse. You think the mountain men stayed inside thier huts/ under their blankets when it was raining/snowing? Heck no! Get your butt out there and shoot!

Make sure you rub the linseed oil into the wood really good with your hands, and make sure your hands are burning hot with friction too. I did the ramrod to the .36 rifle im building and after 12 coats the ramrod is so smooth it feels like plastic. Just get your hands good and hot and keep rubbing and working it into the wood. Use the heal of your palm area too, i find i get lots of heat using that part of the hand.