Is There A Best Wood Oil

Yes there is a best wood oil to use, yet this depends on which application you need it for. For instance there will be clear differences between a walking stick and a cutting board. One needs protection from elements while the other needs to also be food friendly.

An additional function too few consider is using oil for wood art. This can apply to small wood sculptures, hand made pens, or crafted home signs. Some items you purchase from stores also can benefit from wood oil but often few ever realize it.

If you are looking for an exterior solution as a wood preservative I have information linked for this as well.

Which Oil Is Best For Food Safe Uses?

There really are four options that will serve you best. There are more options than I will give you here, yet each of them has issues such as price, rarity, or ease of preparation and longevity.

In order to qualify as being food safe we need a wood oil that will not spoil, flake off into the food, and also has no toxins which can leach into food. In this you have something safe for items like cutting boards, plates, bowls… you get the idea.

I personally prefer either Mineral Oil or Pure Tung Oil. The additional options you can use is Pure Walnut Oil or Beeswax. So why do I prefer mineral and tung over the latter two?

Guests can have allergic reactions to the Walnut Oil and Tung is less likely for this being a seed based oil. As for beeswax, it can be a royal pain to work with.

Mineral Oil is unique compared to the other options. Each time you wash the wood item after having used it you must reapply mineral oil. Some may not mind this, others will hate it. The one bonus to this oil is that it is the easiest to work with and apply.

Pure Tung Oil is the other best option. It is more difficult to use as it can be thick. Yet it is worth the effort. Just be sure to allow the wood time to cure or polymerize before using the wood item. That process can take a few days to more than a week but is worth the protection it gives.

Some say to reapply Tung Oil monthly. It really depends on how much use the items sees. Pay attention to the wood and it will tell you when it is needed. The feel by texture, its color, and how it interacts with liquids will tell you.

Optimally you should only need to reapply every couple of months if used moderately to frequently, but it is not a constantly used tool.

I will place a note here that many have discovered using Coconut Oil for food safe purposes. I will leave this discussion for its own heading below. If you are wondering about my thoughts on this oil consider my later notes within this article.

Pay Attention!!! Know You Are Using Pure Wood Oil!

The problem with many wood oils is that there are a lot of them on the market which are not pure. The reason why is due to making a product that is easier to apply and faster to cure. In achieving this other chemicals are added to many oils you see on store shelves.

I personally refuse to use some oils. For example I have my reasons why I refuse to use linseed oil on anything. Yet when it comes to food safe the key is knowing that the wood oil is pure.

Which Wood Oil Is Best For Other Wood Items?

I have my personal favorite yet allow me to give a few options here. Depending on if you are looking for the best natural way to waterproof wood or simply give a decoration color, there are options.

For general home decor, wood art, or special natural wood items, there are a couple tricks you can use. Here beeswax or Carnauba wax can help you. Some mix these two in order to get a more even appearance. Yet the outcome gives a more natural looking appeal to the wood.

Often these will be used in conjunction with another finish. Wax does not get into the wood grain but rather sits on top. Due to this many like to put a coat of something like a varnish over the wax.

Nevertheless this option allows you to give solid protection while maintaining a more natural appeal to the wood. Alternatively if giving the wood some rich color is what you are looking for, here is where Walnut Oil shines.

Walnut Oil can really help varied colors within the wood grain to stand out. Yet there is a tip here few realize. You can mix Walnut Oil with some beeswax. This can give a more even finish and appearance after a couple applications.

My personal favorite again is Pure Tung Oil. I am really guilty of using it on virtually anything and everything as it is so universal. Since it does not always properly accent art pieces I do not use it on all of my wood art.

Nevertheless it is a great option and also can be mixed with beeswax if so desired. This may take a little experimentation to achieve the desired outcome.

Does Coconut Oil Work As A Wood Oil?

In recent years there has been a popular turn to coconut oil being used as a wood oil. Keep in mind this too is in its pure version. How well does it work?

I will say for now that your mileage may vary but generally speaking it can be a good option for being food safe. There have been some complaints over extensive use and time of it causing wood to smell badly.

If wood begins to smell in this way it can be a sign that things have gone wrong and the wood should be considered rancid. It is likely that you would replace a board before this became a problem.

Personally I would not use it on a board I planned to keep for show or did not see daily use and washing.

Do The Oils Evaporate Or Dry?

Wood Oil does not evaporate. Many will use the term dry yet that is not actually the proper context of what takes place either. Cure would be more accurate, yet what actually takes place is a process called polymerization.

For oils like Tung and Walnut, after the wood oil is spread onto the piece the process begins the moment oxygen hits the surface. The oxygen allows a compound to be formed which hardens the surface.

This process will continue until the oil has hardened all the way through. It is for this reason that it is not drying. Rather it is a cure that has taken place between the oxygen, wood oil, and the wood.

What Breaks Down The Cured Surface Of Wood?

Any element can cause a breakdown in the surface after wood oil has been used. When I say element I am speaking of things such as moisture, sunlight, heat, or cold. Wood is not steel.

As an environment changes so does the wood itself. With heat it will expand, and with cold it will contract. UV light from the sun does what we all know it can do. Moisture is no mystery to us either with the impact it can have on everything it touches.

The polymerized surface will begin to be compromised little by little allowing more exposure to outside elements. This is why more application of wood oil is required with time. It is also why you should never use a dishwasher for wooden kitchen items.

A Mix Of Oils For Wood Art

Wood artists have a unique world which we exist within. Some enjoy the idea of creating a finish which is all natural minimizing the use of things like stains. Here is where wood oil and other natural finishing techniques come into play.

Generally speaking the color one achieves from using wood oil will depend heavily upon the species of wood that is used. Nevertheless in many cases the wood will darken some with its use. In other cases it will become much darker.

For wood art one of the key benefits in using wood oil is not achieved up front at the onset. With Tung or Walnut oil for example to obtain a desired appearance can require many coats of application. So what do these oils offer in appearance?

If the wood has been sanded and is reasonably smooth to touch these oils can create an “old wood” feel. The feel in the hand and appeal to the eye is more old world and classical. A modern item can feel like something that was made hundreds of years ago.

To achieve this requires varied applications. First multiple coats of just Pure Tung Oil. After this has cured then apply a mix of the same tung oil blended with beeswax. This too will require multiple coats and varied blends.

The first process is for depth and consistency in color. The second process with the blend of beeswax builds the surface to be smoothed and form some body. Once completed and cured its outcome is unique and beautiful.

Potential Allergy Risk With Wood Oil

Setting Mineral Oil aside as it is unique, which wood oil has the least potential for allergic reaction? Tung Oil is the one which will have the least potential for an allergic reaction.

It has been estimated that the potential for a reaction with Pure Tung Oil is somewhere between .01% to .1% of a population. With this in mind please self assess and understand any potential risks. This is especially true if someone in your family tends to be highly allergic to many related things.

As Walnut Oil is of course made from none other than walnuts the risk is obviously higher. Due to this anyone who has a nut allergy can be susceptible to a reaction.

Danish Oil is another popular wood oil that I have not yet even mentioned. The reason for this is due to how Danish Oil is often a catch all. In other words it is a blend of different oils, chemicals, and hardeners.

Due to this I would consider Danish Oil as being potentially a problem for someone who is allergic to many different things. Each brand can be different from one to the next.

There is little consistency as to its contents and blend. Also know that there is no “pure” version thus I would never use this on items needed for food prep or serving.

Why Use Wood Oil Over Stain And Varnish?

The reason for using wood oil instead of stains and varnish are many. The most obvious is for those who work with food. Aside from this there are practical reasons for other common wood items.

The greatest benefit is that additional applications of oil do not require stripping the old finish off. Oil can simply be reapplied to gain color and give the protection that the wood needs. With stain and varnish in order to retain color consistency requires the varnish be removed.

The problem with wood oil is that it is not 100% waterproof. It is water resistant. Yet varnish itself is not waterproof. Generally speaking we need to keep wood items where it will not have constant exposure to water.

With tools the benefit to wood oil is that it allows for a natural slip resistant surface while providing protection. The oil is within the wood fibers rather than on the surface so it also lasts longer.

For those who enjoy walking sticks especially for hiking oil is an excellent thing to use. Most sticks are sold with some kind of finish on them already. Yet if you have one that is natural or have made one then it will fare better with oil.

The idea here is simple in how it is generally more resistant to temporary exposure due to the polymerization within the grain. After some use simply reapply the wood oil and hang the walking stick in your closet. On your next hike it will be ready to go looking brand new.

There are definitely times when stain and varnish are preferred. Within my wood art most often this is used to achieve greater variety in color. How something is planned to be used should be part of what dictates your choice.