Oiling palette surface

Today I finally found a strap handle on-line, which would fit this box perfectly. It took me a quite while including a visit to a local luggage repair shop in Georgetown. The main problem was size of the handle. Most of them are 10" or longer.
Anyway, while waiting for those pieces of hardware I ordered, I've been oiling the surface of the palette. The first coat I put yesterday was quickly soaked up by the board. So I put the second coat tonight. I used old linseed oil I bought probably about 5-6 years ago, which I no longer use since I've changed my way of handling paints to put on the canvas.