I’m in desperate need of help here. I’ve always been terrible at picking finishes. Over the last few weeks I’ve been working on a wooden charcuterie board and I’m having a hard time deciding what food safe finish to use on it.
I’m using white oak and cherry and would like the colours (especially on the cherry) to pop out. I had looked into it and decided to use Tung oil. Unfortunately places around me don’t offer pure tung oil, and the only ones I could find were the “one step finish” tung oils, such as Watco and Minwax, which are apparently not food safe
My local store suggested using Watco’s butcher block oil and conditioner as a base, and then apply Watco’s butcher block oil and finish on top of it to finish the project
1 – I’m wondering if I should ignore all these and go for a finish I haven’t thought of yet.
2 – I’m wondering if anyone has used the above oil/conditioner and if it enhances the wood at all.
3 – do I really need to apply both the oil/conditioner and the oil/finish? Or will one of them give me the required results?
4 – If I use a non food safe oil for the board (for example the above tung oil), and then finish it with the butcher block oil/finishing will it make my project food safe?
I appreciate any help that anyone can offer!
I wasn’t sure if I could post direct links to the product pages so everyone knows exactly which oils I’m talking about, so please feel free to ask and I’ll send them over.
Replies
Whether or not a charcuterie board is *supposed* to be used as a cutting board - if this were my project I'd assume it will. That means avoiding film finishes.
So I'd finish it just like a cutting board. For me that means flaxseed oil from the health food store. Flaxseed oil is what they call unboiled raw linseed oil that's been handled in a food safe manner throughout the production process. It imparts an amber tone to the wood.
Since it has no chemicals added, it takes a long time to dry. Like a week or more. It's what Peter Follansbee uses on his hand carved spoons.
Alternatively, any of the products sold for cutting boards would also work.
Mike
All finishes are safe for food contact once they are cured.
Will this board hold food, without food being cut on it? Then use whatever you like.
If food will be cut on this board, so that the wood will likely be cut into, then avoid film-building finishes. The finish can flake off if cut. Stick with an oil.
Avoid non-drying oils, such as mineral oil or most vegetable oils, olive oil, etc. They won't dry, and some can go rancid.
I've used flaxseed oil on bowls and spoons with good results as MikeInOhio recommends. I've also used walnut oil, available at my grocery store (used in salad dressings). It hardens very slowly like flaxseed oil. I like the smell of the walnut oil a little better.
I can get pure tung oil from my local Woodcraft. There are online sources as well, including Woodcraft and Real Milk Paint. It's a good choice if you want more of a film finish.
Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm going to look into the oils you guys mentioned. This is going to be a gift so I'm debating using the non-food safe oils and just telling the recipient not to cut on it. Or just using the food safe options as it will be used as a possible cutting board.
Thanks again everyone!
Look at Tried and True finishes. Totally food safe, easy to apply, and quite durable. I used their varnish oil on a charcuterie board and it's stayed looking great. I
f it's going to be used as a cutting board, probably better to just advise the user to re-coat with mineral oil every few months. Soap, scrubbing, and chopping will remove any finish, so the cheapest and easiest one to apply (mineral oil) is likely the one that will keep the wood looking good more days out of the year.
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