Beech Breadboard

[Smudger]

I've got some steamed beech left over, and I thought I might make a breadboard with it.
What would be a sensible finish? Leave it as it is, oil it, what? If oil, what sort?

 

[TonyW]

I suspect that leaving it as it is would be perfectly acceptable. Most shop bought ones I have seen do not seem to mention anything about treating with oil. I would think that if you are going to use oil you will need to look for food safe type or mineral oil:
Chestnut Food Safe Oil
Mineral Oil

Hope that of some help

Cheers
Tony

 

[gidon]

Yep mineral oil - cheap place for it is Ikea.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Harbo]

Best to leave un-oiled as scrubbing to clean it will remove it anyway.

Don't do what my daughter did and put one I made her it in the dishwasher!!

I keep mine a cupboard where the CH pipes run through - the only one I did oil stunk to high heaven

I really prefer plastic or nylon ones that you can dishwasher - then no problems with germs, but the wooden ones look prettier?

Rod

 

[Smudger]

Thanks for that. As it's just a breadboard I'll go for no finish. Apparently beech has antiseptic properties, or so I read a while back.

 

[Digit]

Make sure it's not spalted though, looks nice like that but not good near food.

Roy.

 

[SVB]

We use normal vegetable / sunflower oil on ours - it is fine. I also use the same to finish toys turned for babies etc.

Just don't use olive oil as it goes rancid after a while.

 

[Rich]

Smudger, have a look at the cutting board made by the wood whisperer, he's made it with the end grain showing and theres a good deal on finishing as well, you'll enjoy.
regards,
Rich.

ps, with the end grain showing it's easier on the cutting edges.

 

[TheTiddles]

I'm doing exactly the same thing myself right now, end grain is nice if you have square section material, I'm using the offcuts from some workbench legs that I seem to have a stack of around... The best finish (ie. most effective for the cost) is vegetable oil, which you most likely have already around.

Aidan

 

[Smudger]

I was planning to radius the ends and avoid having to do any real work!

 

[Rich]

Yeah, typical teacher, :lol: :lol: :loltouche)