How to protect a 'raw' frame

Hi all. I recently bought a genesis equilibrium with a 'raw' steel frame and it is starting to rust a lot. I would like to protect it, but ideally without stripping it down. I am happy with how it looks (actually quite like the rusty steel look) I just want to protect it from further corrosion. I am looking at using boiled linseed oil or a clear lacquer.. Has anyone got any suggestions. Thanks, Fred

Clear lacquer will slow it but rust will develop underneath as a clear coat is porous I believe and will not seal it from the air and elements.
Using an oil on it should protect it fairly well but it doesn't last and will need to be reapplied regularly. Ultimately there's no real way to keep a raw steel look as protected as paint, it will always rust regardless unless it is painted with primer and base colour or powder coated.
Some companies like Brompton put frames through a phosphate coating and then clear powder coat which holds up much better than any of the alternatives if you want the raw look but you'd need that done professionally somewhere.

Ok thanks. Think I will go for the boiled linseed oil and just reapply as and when needed.

linseed oil is the best I've found, heat the oil up as you want a liquid thin coat on there to help get in the pores in the metal, plus too much makes it sticky

Anyone done a clear powder coat?

I had the first frame I built clear powder coated.

It’s not had a ton of use and almost none in poor weather but there’s no corrosion showing up yet (built it almost 2 years ago).

It’s not like a coloured powder coat btw, a lot more brittle. Cracked off the track ends like crystallised sugar where I tightened the nuts up and it’s crazed in a few other places, presumably places that flex?

Le tonkinois, some sort of linseed oil based boat oil stuff worked very well for me. Nice to apply with brush, I did three layers and it held up for quite a while and loads of wet rides including snow and stuff.
I sold it on here and I think it's been sold on.
Pictures in old sale thread here.