Cutting Board Finish

[Hawk]

One of my quarantine projects is a cutting board. My question comes in about the finish. Instructions I've read call for a "hot mineral oil/bees wax mixture (4:1)" to finish sealing the wood for use. How hot is "hot"? I'm guessing just enough to melt the wax.

 

Chris

[don in brooklin on]

When I do end grain cutting boards I use mineral oil on one side and add liberally and when it shows to the other side I turn over and add one more coat there.  I let sit over night. Sometimes I add oil to both side again.  Mineral oil never really dries.  I then add my mixture of mineral oil/ bees wax.  About 50 -50.  Want a paste.  Put on board liberally and polish off.  Let sit over night and next day add a small amount of the paste and polish with and automobile polisher that I got at HF cheap.

PS:  Spread Mineral oil by hand as it is nice on your hands and you don't waist oil.

For side grain boards.  I do about the same but do both sides at once and do a couple of times and then polish with the same paste.  I do not heat but I hear that works well.

 

[Bill WIlson]

I bought a bottle of butcher block oil at Lowes for some cutting boards I made a couple years ago.  It already has wax mixed in, but recommends that you warm the bottle to make application easier.  I put it in a dish of hot water for several minutes, which works well.

If you are mixing your own, what I've read is that a double boiler is recommended to melt the wax.  I would think that once the wax is melted, pouring it in another container, with some room temp BLO would give you a mixture that is plenty warm enough to apply, perhaps too warm.  The whole idea is that you need the concoction warm enough that it applies easily and the oil will soak into the board.  It doesn't have to be scalding hot.

[amazingkevin]

Great tips an tricks!!!

[scrollerpete]

I made several cutting boards and used mineral oil first 2 coats and very heavy coats let the wood drink it all. My next step was bees wax, let dry a little, buff and repeat at least 3 or 4 times. My wife had one now for 3 years and still looking great.

Edited April 8, 2020 by scrollerpete

[Clayton717]

I heat my oil/bees wax mixture. just to the point that all the wax is melted. For the end grain boards I apply just mineral oil first, after it "dries" I put on the wax/oil combo.