Food safe finishes

[martlewis]

Hi,

Really simple little project, my brother wanted a solid wood butcher block chopping board but couldn't find one to the dimensions he wanted. No problem I say, I'll make you one.

But... Can anyone suggest a durable finish that's safe to use on a chopping board please? Is to be finished with a rub off brushing wax but i'm not sure what to use over that. A clear finish is needed.

 

[Anonymous]

one option is to oil the board, boiled linseed oil is food safe, can be reapplied every few months as the board wears, must be boiled to be food safe.

 

[PowerTool]

Or Chestnut do a food-safe finishing oil - have used it a couple of times with good results.

Andrew

 

[garywayne]

I've had a wooden chopping block for years as I've enjoyed cooking from an early age. All I use is either Olive oil, or plain vegetable cooking oil after every wash, (scrub with very stiff scrubbing brush), with hot water without detergent.

 

[NickWelford]

I believe Walnut oil is the best for these things - least chance to go rancid

 

[Jake]

one option is to oil the board, boiled linseed oil is food safe, can be reapplied every few months as the board wears, must be boiled to be food safe.

I thought BLO had heavy metal driers in it, so a real no no.

 

[Scrums]

Surely either Olive oil or Sunflower oil- something the same as the 'customer' can easily find in his/her kitchen to renew the finish is he best option?

Chris.

 

[Anonymous]

one option is to oil the board, boiled linseed oil is food safe, can be reapplied every few months as the board wears, must be boiled to be food safe.

I thought BLO had heavy metal driers in it, so a real no no.

Ooops, oh well no reported deaths so far :shock:

 

[martlewis]

I think going with oil is the answer then, probably one of the more commonly available ones. Anyone know if it's safe to use a brushing wax first to colour the wood before oiling or is this going to be a problem?

 

[Jake]

Ooops, oh well no reported deaths so far :shock:

Don't worry, we won't tell the police about the cutting block you made for that Litvenenko chap.

 

[Taffy Turner]

I think going with oil is the answer then, probably one of the more commonly available ones. Anyone know if it's safe to use a brushing wax first to colour the wood before oiling or is this going to be a problem?

I'm not an expert, but I would have thought that applying wax to the wood first would stop the oil being absorbed??

The normal method is oil first, then wax, but this wouldn't work either in your case, as you want to change the colour of the wood, so maybe a water-based stain, followed by oil?

Gary

 

[Adam]

You could use beeswax polish, or pour it on hot and scrape it back after oiling - as I consider pure besswax to be completely safe - certainly you are chewing on it when eat cut comb.

Adam

 

[engineer one]

surely the percieved wisdom is not to wax the cutting boards???

since the research which states that wood has certain freindly bacteria
which actually kill off the germs more effectively than washing plastic.
i was under the impresssion that the thing to do was just oil with
a vegetable oil, and then scrape to clean up.

i think wax would come off onto the food.

paul :wink:

 

[Nick W]

There is a long letter in this month's Trad. Wood about this subject.

 

[martlewis]

There is a long letter in this month's Trad. Wood about this subject.

Excuse my ignorance.... What's Trad. Wood?

On the other subject, I only thought about waxing to change the colour and show up the grain but I'll just oil it instead.

 

[Nick W]

Traditional Woodworking magazine.