Which Oil to Finish Wood?

[Adam Savage]

Good questions. The beeswax had three light coats, the linseed and danish oil had one light coat each. The beeswax feels very slightly waxy (as you would expect) and the other two feel like rubbing your finger over paper, if that makes sense. None have been polished with any pads yet, but I only sanded them down to 150g paper, so they wouldn't come up to mirror shine without a good few coats more, and a lot of elbow grease, to fill the grain/sanding scratches/etc.

They are pipe holders I have been trying to master.

[bigzee]

I made a chopping board from oak some years ago and thinking that linseed might be inappropriate for food use, put olive into it. This seemed to work ok and after every few washes (with washing up detergent) needed topping up with a bit of kitchen towel soaked in olive oil. Can't afford olive oil now - so use cheap veg oil, but rarely use the board anyway - owing to the concave surface from years of knife work. I think any "cooking" oil would suffice to prevent too much hydration, and create a bit of barrier between food and wood.

[Adam Savage]

I made a chopping board from oak some years ago and thinking that linseed might be inappropriate for food use, put olive into it. This seemed to work ok and after every few washes (with washing up detergent) needed topping up with a bit of kitchen towel soaked in olive oil. Can't afford olive oil now - so use cheap veg oil, but rarely use the board anyway - owing to the concave surface from years of knife work. I think any "cooking" oil would suffice to prevent too much hydration, and create a bit of barrier between food and wood.

Generally speaking, veg oil and olive oil are meant to go "rancid" after a while, but I have never seen it happen yet. Beech is the best wood to use for chopping boards, as it has natural antibacterial properties

[bigzee]

Generally speaking, veg oil and olive oil are meant to go "rancid" after a while, but I have never seen it happen yet. Beech is the best wood to use for chopping boards, as it has natural antibacterial properties

Yeah - and beech is an absolute dream to work with. Also is nice and dense and consistant grain, which would have fewer fissures for bacteria to settle in. I only used oak 'cos that's what I had available after dismantling a wardrobe, and I figured it would at least be more resistant to knife use
As for rancid oil, I think on a board that's being washed regularly and having oil re-applied, then it's not going to be a worry. This board's desparately ready for more oil (it's in semi-retirement 'cos the new plastic one is flat!)

[Adam Savage]

Maybe the article I saw, was more about spoons, where they are constantly being submersed in liquid and exposed to heat?

Fantastic looking board there mate. Nicely done

[bigzee]

Thanks. I suppose heating and cooling is a recipe for bacterial disaster.

[Ben Casey]

Good questions. The beeswax had three light coats, the linseed and danish oil had one light coat each. The beeswax feels very slightly waxy (as you would expect) and the other two feel like rubbing your finger over paper, if that makes sense. None have been polished with any pads yet, but I only sanded them down to 150g paper, so they wouldn't come up to mirror shine without a good few coats more, and a lot of elbow grease, to fill the grain/sanding scratches/etc.

They are pipe holders I have been trying to master.

Behave will you I cant keep up LOL Love the work mate

[Adam Savage]

Cheers Ben. Thinking of winding down for the holidays now lol.

[Ben Casey]

Cheers Ben. Thinking of winding down for the holidays now lol.

Thats good I'm trying to carve a spoon at the min but it looks more like a mallet LOL I will do some pics in a bit

[Adam Savage]

Cool. Look forward to seeing the. I like hammers....I mean, spoons