I thought it might be an idea to put a few blog posts which answer frequently asked questions and what is the best oil for treating wood? has to be one of the most frequent.
Dry wood is like blotting paper and would soak up whatever you put on or in it. A breakfast bowl would soak up the milk which would then go rancid, not nice. We treat wood to seal the surface and make it less absorbent so that it can be used for food and washed afterwords.
You can treat wood with oils or waxes, waxes tend to sit on the surface whereas oils tend to penetrate deeper. Oils can be separated into those which cure or set and those which always stay liquid. The ones which set are best partly because a cured oil protects the wood better, waterproofing the surface and not washing out, but also because an oil that always stays liquid like olive for instance can go rancid.
The three most common oils which set on their own are linseed, walnut and tung oil. Linseed and walnut have both been used as the carrier oil in oil paintings from the middle ages and it is the oil curing which sets the paint. Tung oil, made from a tropical nut, is commonly used in commercial finished like danish oil which is basically a mix of tung oil (expensive) with white spirit (cheap) the white spirit makes the oil thinner and helps it penetrate the wood. Warming the oil has the same effect but without adding unpleasant chemicals.
Since I know what a field of linseed or a walnut plantation look like and they are traditional in Europe these are may favourite oils. I advise folk who just want to treat a bowl at home to use walnut, it is sold everywhere you buy olive oil and makes a nice salad dressing too. The oil comes in a glass bottle and I suggest standing this bottle in hot water for a few minutes to warm the oil, pour it onto the wood and wipe around with a piece of kitchen paper, allow it to soak in for a minute or two then wipe off any excess with clean kitchen paper.
Unfortunately I can not use it commercially due to nut allergy so I use linseed. DIY shops sell raw and boiled linseed, boiled has metal drying agents added which are poisonous (a bit like old lead based paints) it is fine for cricket bats or window frames but not for food use. The drying agents mean that it sets in a couple of days rather than weeks.
So raw linseed is the stuff and liking to source things locally and organically I would ideally like to find a UK farm or oil mill where I could buy cold pressed organic oil. So far I have not found this so I use a really nice linseed which a friend buys for me in Sweden. Over there linseed is sold like olive oil here, there are so many different choices available. I like my oil because it is almost colourless where many linseed oils are very yellow. It costs more than a good extra virgin olive oil even buying it 20 litres at a time but it is worth it.
All my woodware is treated with this oil, the dry wood soaks it up and with time it sets in the wood and no further treatment is necessary. At home we never re oil any of our plates and bowl, just use them wash them in hot water with detergent and let them dry. If you want to keep your bowls looking bright and fresh then an occasional wipe with walnut oil will do the job.
One last comment, many commercial oils such as IKEAs chopping board oil are based on “mineral oil” or liquid paraffin oil. This is an inert oil so it never goes rancid but it never sets either. It is also a by product of the petrochemical industry, I prefer a natural vegetable based oil.
Hope this is helpful. Any other questions feel free to ask and I’ll try to answer them here.
Now you know what to treat woodware with you might like to see the wooden bowls and plates that I make for everyday use.
I went looking for proper raw linseed oil and ended up buying "flax seed oil" from a health food shop. It was expensive but works well for the quantities I need.
Robin, Raw linseed oil is known to cure very slowly. Is their any concern that washing will remove uncured oil? I have been trying to determine how much direct exposure to sunlight(winter) affects the curing process. Thanks.Steve
William, yes flax seed oil is the same stuff but tends to be more refined sold in small bottles and very expensive. The best UK source I have found is a nice oil sold in agricultural merchants as a horse feed supplement. It is £25 for 5 litres and has a pleasant nutty small but is rather yellow.Steve, raw linseed can cure quite slowly but sunlight does speed things as does warming the oil before you apply it. I talked to a painter (decorator) in Sweden who had used raw linseed as his base oil for many years. He said oils varied enormously, the best oils cure very quickly. My current oil cures quite quickly but I also have some which has been exposed to sunlight for 3 months in a bowl and this is almost setting in the bowl. My painter friend told me how they put their linseed in big glass tanks on the windowsill and stir it once a day for several months. The sunlight part polymerises the oil and so when you use it it goes off much quicker.
The Folly of Food-Safe FinishesThe driers in boiled linseed oil, are not made from lead (usually manganese or cobalt) and are present in very small amount. The driers catalyze the oxidation of the fatty acids in the drying oil, causing it to crosslink and harden. The driers in BLO are permanently trapped in the oil film, and harmless therein. UV light tends to "energise" the oil which encourages oxidation as well, by promoting free radicals. Mike Mahoney makes a pre-treated (polymerized) walnut oil and walnut-oil+ wax blend that can be used to finish wood bowls and such. There is also General Finishes Salad Bowl Finish, which is a food safe urethane type finish
What you treat your bowl with is a matter of personnel choice just as some will choose organic food and others intensively produced food and each side will argue the pros and cons. Lack of proof of harmful effects is not sufficient reason for me to avoid something. Poisonous lead based oil paint passed all the tests of lack of proof and recommendation by all government agencies mentioned in the linked article for many years.I think the popular woodworking article is fair in pointing out that commercially available finishes contain only small amounts of metallic drying agents which once cured are unlikely to cause a problem. On a personnel level I prefer to treat my wood with something I would be happy to drink and which is commonly sold as a food product. One of the issues I have with boiled linseed is that in the UK because it is not sold as a food product the contents do not have to be declared on the bottle, I would like to know what is in it.I find it interesting that despite the liturgical culture in the USA walnut oil is commonly used as a wood finish there whilst in the UK we tend to avoid it due to the widespread concern about nut allergy. I have done considerable research and not found a clear answer as to if walnut oil on a bowl could be harmful to a person who suffers from nut allergy but since an alternative is available I am happy make use of what I feel likely to be the safest and most environmentally sound product I can.
PS I just read through the data sheet that comes with the "salad bowl finish" linked to above. It may well be food safe when cured but this section would be enough to put me off."WARNING: This product contains chemical(s) known to the State of California to cause cancer.Benzene 71-43-2 WARNING: This product contains chemical(s) known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Benzene 71-43-2 Toluene 108-88-3"I wish UK legislation made this sort of information available on UK finishing products so that consumers could make informed choices.
Hello Robin,thanks for this post, I am enjoying reading it and the comments. There is always more to think about with subjects like this,By the way, a couple of years ago we started buying cold pressed linseed oil from Flax farm when they were at a show at the Weald and Downland museum. Tasted superb. Their website is worth a look.http://www.flaxfarm.co.uk/ Only a few months ago I sold a rake to a couple who are now farming flax in Gloucestershire. Not sure where but I hope to catch up with them next year and see how it's going – and find out how well the hayrake copes with raking flax!cheersMark
Hi.You say that IKEA mineral oil is not suitable because it never sets. But what about this oil made by them:http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50070378It contains linseed oil and a drying agent that has no lead and it's suitable to use with food.
Personally I have yet to see a drying agent that I would want to eat. I have not looked at the spec sheet on this oil so don't know what the drying agent is. As I have said before what folk use on their woodware is personal choice once we know the facts.
Hi Robin,I have made a couple of bowls recently and found your advice really helpful on sealing them but since luckily my brother lives in Sweden i wondered if you would divulge your brand of linseed oil, maybe I could send him on a mission to get me some!ThanksNeil
You can buy it from the shop at the national folk craft school at Saterglantan http://www.saterglantan.se/butiken_en.phpand you can see the one I use in this blog post.http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-make-home-made-paint.html
Hi Robin, ever tried Hempseed oil? It has a similar drying value to walnut oil and does not yellow. I can't compare the two; hempseed oil worked so well for me it has been the only oil I have used for finishing. No nut allergy issues either and tastes great too. Coconut oil is good for a surface/penetrating coat and will not turn rancid for a very long time. It mixes well with beeswax for a topcoat that smells/feels great.
Interesting Brent, I actually have a tiny pot of hemp oil that was given to me but too little to try out really. In the UK it is sold in small quantities for high prices in health food shops. Or in even smaller quantities at even higher prices for other uses. I see in the US second pressings are available quite reasonably http://www.sunstarorganics.com/43438/445471/Miscellaneous/HEMP-SEED-OIL.htmland if I had that available it certainly looks as good as linseed. It sounds as if prior to the prohibition of hemp products in the 1930's that this oil was much used in industrial finishes.
I found info here about applying for permits to import seeds and grow in the UK. I would try this route if it were open for me… I am a farmer though! I understand it is among the most simple and benign crops to grow, requiring very little effort beyond breaking the ground, seeding and standing back. Although I understand UK growers are looking for varieties that will ripen seeds more reliably in a mild climate. Also, maybe you could find a local hemp farmer a little easier since they need to register? I get my oil from hempseed.ca or Nutiva.com, both have been good. I carve spoons mostly so I don't need much for that purpose, more for eating.
Nut allergies can have terrible consequences and one can empathize with people who suffer from them. However, recent research is finding, that early exposure to nuts (even peanuts) reduces rather than increases the danger of allergic reaction. People need to quit fearing and avoiding so many things.
I have a son with a severe peanut allergy. He was one when he had his first reaction to peanuts and his allergies have only gotten worse. It is a very serious problem and should not be treated lightly. Nothing wrong with being conscientious to the challenges of others.
@JIf the "new research" suggests that walnut oil will not cause anaphalaxis in nut allergy sufferers then I'll start using it straight away because it is a great oil. In the meantime anaphalaxis causes 1500 deaths per year in the US, I have met a few folk that suffer acute anaphalaxic reaction to nuts and they would not share the view that we need to quit fearing and avoiding things.
Yesterday I had a mallet turned from yellow balau wood, last night I put it in a mixture of boiled linseed oil and turpentine to soak for a week or to. But I spoke to a friend and he said that they used a mixture of linseed and carnia oil on a jetty they built from balau wood. What is carnia oil (web searches only point to carnia seed) and what is it used for. I have not been able to locate a manufacturer, a supplier or a description of the oil.
No one seems to have posted here for a while, but I am quite interested in the reference to carnia oil too. That is because of its apparently being recommended for a jetty, ie for external use in water. Very interesting that! Advice re the best treatment for external (non food related) oak, generally, would also be appreciated. But re the issue with nut allergies, the guy who was saying "recent" reseach recommends early exposure to allergens, was correct. It is hardly "recent" evidence, though, and apart from anything else (with any understanding at all re how the immune system works) it is common sense. Babies and very small children should have their immune systems introduced to all potentially dangerous allergens while the immune system is still developing. Being introduced early means the body is taught to recognise whatever as "normal". Problems are much more likely to arise re things that only get introduced later. The sentence re people needing to quit fearing and avoiding things was potentially dangerous nonsense though. it actually sounds as if f someone has read something but not actually understood it. If someone already has a nut allergy, anaphylaxis (or anaphyalactic shock) is far too serious to take risks with. But people who are scared of an allergy shouldn't let their fear keep those allergens away from very small children, because that is exactly the wrong thing to do. It is obviously much better to prime the immune system to prevent the allergy developing at all.
I need to treat a wood knife handle. Can linseed oil be used for that as well?
I have some flax seed oil that I bought at a health food store which has past it's expiry date and smells a little rancid so I don't want to use it for cooking. However, I thought it would be good as a finish for cutting boards I make. I was wondering if boiling it would be a way to improve it as a finish and get rid of the rancid smell.I should add that I tried using a little as a test on a cherry board. The finish looked nice and the rancid smell did not remain after drying.
Thanks for the article!I've been looking for proper information on this subject for weeks, I don't know why I didn't find this post earlier!I'm still wondering about natural oils and rancidity: Most texts seem to claim that ALL vegetable oils go rancid over time. I personally finished a desk with linseed oil (organic health food stuff, meant for food) about half a year ago and I did notice an unpleasant smell about a month afterwards – does it mean the oil went rancid? or was it a result of using the desk (getting grease from my hands etc on the surface) before the oil had set? Since then the smell has disappeared and I'm still using the desk daily. Does it make any difference in terms of rancidity if you add beeswax?
vjc I have never heard of linseed going rancid and smells are difficult things to talk about over the net. Some people find the smell of linseed unpleasant whilst others like it. I think the protein content of linseed can cause it to grow mildew in humid environments and I wonder if the protein could have been your issue? I believe Linseed intended for paint tends to be filtered to remove the protein.
Thanks for the tip! I see if I can find filtered oil next time.
Hello, I am certainly not an expert or a biochemist but I believe that all (animal or vegetable) oils, being polyunsaturated fats at room temperature (ie liquid) are subject to rancidification – ie the process of chemical decomposition most often through oxidation. Annoyingly Linseed (flaxseed) oil is particularly subject to rancidification through oxidation as its major constituent alpha-linoleic acid is a triglyceride fatty acid which exhibits a strong reaction with oxygen – indeed its why we use it – and the lipid trygliceride is broken down to a stable solid hydrocarbon (thats the nice hard but not brittle surface we are after) releasing a mixture of volatile compounds such as aldehydes and ketones.It's these flavours and smells which we learn to associate with rancidity. Not always bad, in some cases such as stilton cheese we may value these flavours, but they can be an acquired taste to say the least. Be wary when a Romanian offers you pork fat! When my linseed oil arrives fresh from the farm I often take off the top half a litre and put it in the fridge for salad dressings. When fresh the typical linseed smell is almost absent – this smell is an indicator of oxidation in itself and the taste rapidly starts to become harsh, or perhaps metallic. It needs cold, dark and absence of oxygen to slow the oxydation as much as possible – but its the oil that most wants to oxidise (go rancid)so you can't really win.Historically linseed oil would have been refined (washed) for some purposes which would have had the effect of removing some compounds such as free fatty acids. I don't know if this would have changed the smell and taste of rancidification? It certainly changes the colour and purity of the oil. Perhaps the way the cold press is run may also affect the composition of the oil (if you are using cold pressed raw linseed oil). This may result in some oils being judged to be different quality. Normally most people learn to like the smell of oxidising linseed oil and associate it with cricket bats and other pleasant memories – but I have had some customers where the smell of linseed makes them physically sick. So I guess one persons pleasant wood finish is another persons rancid food? As you say, it's hard to discuss on the net, but wikipedia is a great starting place if you are interested in the process.As I say, I am not an expert, just an interested user so I apologise for the poor explanations,cheers Mark
Would coconut oil work? Are some people allergic to it too? It is solid at room temp.
Hi Robin,I'm not sure about the time needed to let the oil set. I read here and there that it could take weeks, but how do I know when it's set? I also wonder how much application is needed for the process. By the way, I can't tell you how much I enjoy your blog and your carving skills inspire me a lot. Greetings from Montreal.
tshoney, not sure about coconut oil but hopefully the article shows what you are looking for enough to make an informed decision. Coconuts don't grow in the UK or anywhere near so it's not something I will be using.Luc, you know when it is set if you place it on a piece of newspaper over night and it does not leave an oily mark. In the UK we can sell and start using bowls before the oil is set because few folk use table cloths any more. In Sweden friends have to be sure it is cured before sale as folk use nice hand woven linen cloths. I only apply once by dipping in hot oil, if applying cold then topping up once a day for three or four days is best, saturate the surface, let it soak up as much as it will before wiping off excess.
Thank you for this nice detailed explanation.I will now order walnut oil, there's a nice online store in Canada who sells it in quantity up to a 1 L. It's called Lee Valley, maybe some other canadian visitors would like to know this.
Would you suggest walnut oil for butcher blocks as well? I purchased a John Boos butcher block and they advise to use mineral oil… I also have some nice mid century furniture pieces, some of which are walnut and some teak. Additionally have a few Japanese nesting tables that I believe to be cherry. Can I use walnut oil on all of these to polish? What about stains / spots, can I remove those without sanding, etc.?
Can anyone suggest a non-commercial solution for protecting exterior wood exposed to conditions of heat and extreme sun in summer (Mediterranean Spain)? Thank you.
Hi I am treating kitchen cupboard doors that I think are Oak, can I use linseed on oak? The can says not to.
What about the combustability of linseed oil or is the natural edible linseed oil not combustable?
@ Siobhan all oils are combustable. The oils that cure such as linseed, tung and walnet generate a small amount of heat as they cure. If you have a big bundle of oil soaked rags packed tightly together it is possible for this heat to cause spontaneous combustion though it is very rare and it does need well soaked rags packed tight. I always use paper kitchen towel and burn it afterwards but if you want to use rags either spread them out so they stay cool as they dry or keep them in a metal tin.
@rex I use linseed regularly on oak, no idea why anyone would suggest not.
Nice post!You are lucky to live close to flax/linseed fields.Wondering if you have ever tried this?: http://www.fullchisel.com/blog/?p=1655I live in the desert so raw oil tends to dry quickly for me anyway.Thanks, A.W.
RobinI think this has sort of been answered before but I'd be grateful for reassurance! I have recently bought two (new) intricately carved panels, one in Morocco which is cedar, the other in Uzbekistan which might be walnut. Neither has been treated at all and the carvers variously recommended cottonseed and linseed oil. I'm very keen to retain the original colour of the wood as far as possible. You say that 'my linseed oil is virtually colourless' – is that the one you get from Sätergläntan? And if so, would you recommend it for my purposes? Very grateful for any advice – they're both beautiful pieces
David any oil will darken your wood significantly, to get an idea how much you could sponge some water onto the back of one of your panels, that is the colour it would go with oil. If the wood is a darker colour anyway then the difference between the normal yellowish linseed and the light coloured oil I get from Saterglantan would be minimal it makes a difference on white woods which develop a yellow tinge with most linseed.
The previous owner of my new home was an amateur cabinetmaker. One of the cabinets has a very strong acrid smell that seems to stick to whatever I put in there. I thought it was a chemical from the varnish or off-gassing from within the plywood interior panels. But he says he used linseed oil that went rancid. I've smelled linseed oil before and it never bothered me but this is awful.I've tried cleaning it, airing it, filling it with baking soda, and finally (desperate) coated the entire interior with 2 coats of polyurethane from a "green" building supply place. Nothing works. Still smells horrible and it gets worse in warm weather. The cabinet is at least a year old, so I don't think the smell will go away with time.Before I throw out this very pretty cabinet, can anyone suggest how to get rid of the smell? Thanks,Lisa
Hi Robin,I'm wondering if you have any tips for a polish (without any petroleum distillates) for white oak floors that have been finished with polyurethane. This may sound like a paradox but I assure you I did not have anything to do with the current plastic finish.Many thanks in advance,Andy
Hi Weed, I am afraid my comments are all based on personal experience and experimentation and only applicable to raw wood. Sorry I can't help with your poly finish.Lisa I am afraid that is not something I have experienced. In my very early amateur days I did treat some wood with sunflower which went rancid and getting rid of it proved impossible, even boiling bowls in water did not get rid of it all, it would keep oozing out. I have never heard of linseed producing such an unpleasant smell before and I have a lot of experience of using it on many different types of application.
Robin,many thanks for your response to my previous question.Afraid I have another. What walnut oil do you buy and where do you buy it?I ask because although walnut oil has a very innocent sounding name it seems not all walnut oils are so innocent.I won't mention their names but I have found two woodworking companies on the internet that sell walnut oil, one in Canada and one in the U.S. Both claim their products are 100% pure walnut oil (do not contain petroleum distillates). However one of them has the California Proposition 65 information listed on the walnut oil information page and the other cannot even sell to people in California and Oregon.Please advise.Thank you,Andy
weed I am in the UK as stated in the article I don't use walnut oil for the things I sell due to the food allergy thing. When I use it for my own use I buy it from the supermarket where pure walnut oil is available alongside olive oil sold as a salad oil. It is cheaper than a good linseed/flax oil.
Hi Robin,
Have you tried “cooking” your bowls in flax oil, say in a slow cooker? I have heard that green wood can be gradually stewed in oil so to remove the moisture and drive the oil into the wood. If so, what temps and times do you recommend? Also, have you ever tried baking a piece of wood after it has soaked in oil to help speed the polymerization process? Again, temps and times?
Thanks for any info, and love your blog. Just built my own bowl lathe and have turned a few bowls. Very rewarding.
Hi Eric I dip my bowls in hot oil in a deep fat fryer.
Robin,
How hot is the oil? Then do you leave it set a bit (how long) or wipe it off right away? And then how long roughly until it’s dry enough for use? Do you continue to wipe it off as it dries.
Thanks!
Li
Li these are all things that can be experimented with easily, to me the internet is great to source technical info but there comes a time when it’s best to read less and do more. How hot I don’t know and it doesn’t matter, if it is cold it is thick and gloopy, warming it makes it thinner so it penetrates that is all. I wipe it off within a couple of minutes. I can and do use it straight away though the oil is not cured. In Sweden folk have posh hand woven linen tablecloths so it is important the oil is fully cured before selling a bowl, in the UK it is not so important. I dip it once, wipe it off once, job done.
Robin, thanks so much for responding.
That makes great sense. I’ve begun experimenting but this inspires me to roll with it and go beyond the warmth level I’ve started with. And also, to not think I need to wait so long for it to cure before use.
I also really liked the comment you made earlier about that some folks get the raw flax oil and sit it in the sun and stir it to begin the polymerization.
Thanks! Li
Hi Robin
Just wanted to say, great article! Very informative and concise.
Thank you for your help, i will be getting some walnut oil when I’m next at the sueprmarket! Easy! 🙂
If I just use small limbs which I’ve just cut down;and want small rounds for interior design which oil, and or, adhesive would you recommend? Im very broke and just trying to decorate on a no little to no budget.. Thank you
I enjoyed reading the blog on best oils to treat woods and have already learn’t quite a bit. We have a 3cm thick oak kitchen bar (1m x 3m) which we use for prep, eating, drinking around so as you can imagine well used. It is 5 years old and we originally treated it with Danish oil every day for a week, every week for a month and then every month but stopped after 3 months as everything would stick to it especially paper, cardboard, etc.
We haven’t done anything since and the sticking to be honest has got worse.
Do you think we should sand it down and oil again? I am of course concerned that the wood will eventually dry out and split.
Your comments would be welcomed.
If using a commercial finish like Danish oil I would seek advice from the manufacturer. I am surprised that it sounds not to have cured properly. How much did you apply? I would always put the oil on leave for a few minutes to soak in then remove all from the surface. I would not recommend sanding that will just create a nasty mess of dust particles mixed with oil. If there is a surface skin of sticky uncured oil I would strip this off as well as possible by scrubbing with warm water, detergent and a plastic scouring pad then re apply a finish
Hi Robin
Thank you for your reply, I’ve been away for a while hence not getting back to you earlier.
When we applied from the start we just left it to soak in and didn’t wipe off any excess so maybe it is for that reason. Of course we are novices in this area and its always dangerous letting us loose on something we did not know enough about. I will take your advice and scrub it with warm water, detergent and a plastic scouring pad then re apply a finish. I’ll let you know how we get on.
Once again really appreciate your time and expertise.
Robin, would using tung oil as a finish be a concern for customers with nut allergies? I use tung oil for bowls I’m using in my house. I will look for raw linseed oil and try that.
I have a oak floor that the polyurethane finish has been scuffed thin. I am renting and do not want to pay for new flirting but would like the floors to stay nice while I’m here. Is walnut/linseed/coconut/tung oil ok for floors and then buffed up with beeswax on top??
Hi Robin,
I restore furtniure at a heritage railway and now have a wash(draining)board to restore. When is it best to use varnish as oppsed to wax/oils?
Many thanks
Jane
Thank you for your informative post Robin.
I generally use wax for interior wood, and removal is easy if its not quite right or you want to change to a different finish. (rarely bother)
In response to the post regarding coconut oil, I use this annually on my chopping boards, wooden spoons and knife / garden tool handles. I have read it will go rancid, but not for a long time, and has not for me over 5+ years with the use my items get.
Get it warm and dip the item or wipe on. It will not set, so will feel oily until you rub it all off. Its fine on skin and hair obviously, since you can fry your eggs in it,
I just set up my IKEA kitchen and am treating the Solid wood worktops. As the wood treatment oil has been discontinued in the local IKEA store here and I had to buy a pricey one from ACE hardware.
The treatment oil is blended with lemon oil however still mixed with Hydrocarbon (Petroleum Derived Compound) which I don’t like it. This is my first time DIY using treatment oil on wood and have no idea how proper I would have treated the new woods and how well I can preserve them although they are guaranteed for 25 years.
Did you mean that any kind of natural oils can be used for wood treatment let’s don’t talk about the price of the oils. I have been using a number of essential oils for aroma therapies and topical use and therefore curious to ask if I can use these PURE oils to treat the woods. (As some of them are very affordable and I would prefer to use natural stuffs than those are commercially produced)
And I purchased these oils (whether it is essential or carrier such as sweet almond, macadamia, walnut, avocado) at an affordable price from an online store at USA named iherb. If I can confirm this, then I will switch to natural oils instead.
Need your advice. Thanks and have good day.
Hi Lai, did you read the article? Most pure oils will remain liquid and can go rancid over time. I would advise walnut or linseed or if you wish to continue using an oil similar to the ikea oil then it is mineral oil which is sold in pharmacies as a laxative, you can add essential oil to it if you like but it will have no long term effect.
the linseed oil you talk about.. would that be the same linseed oil use to treet my shovel and rake handles?
yes but I use raw where most folk would use boiled on tool handles, it has metalic drying agents added to make it set more quickly but not good for food use.
What if you use extra virgin olive on wood you have already stained with oil based stain.
Olive oil goes rancid and does not set do not put it on wood
Robin. Heap of thanks for your article and prompt reply!
I completed the treatment by applying the 3rd coat as recommended in IKEA’s manual. The next will be sanding using coarse sand paper (also an instruction from IKEA’s manual). I am going to proceed with this final touch up within 12 hours.
However, after reading some of the discussion and advice posted here I am doubtful now whether I should follow the IKEA manual for the last step.
I like natural wood’s colour and texture but I am a novice and completely new for taking care of natural woods. And worrying If I had treated the fresh woods appropriately, worse if I had done it wrongly then it could have caused harm to the durability of the worktops and ultimately it may not serve its purpose in good condition over long term.
Thanks Robin.
Very interesting article.
I have made my own wood polish for years now.
I mix 1 part pure beeswax to 4 parts pure coconut oil.
(I substituted Olive oil with coconut after my dogs started licking the wood.They don’t appear to be as interested in the coconut.)
Applying every 8 weeks.let soak for at least 4 hours then buff
With a cotton cloth. Only need to wipe over weekly in between applications.
Lovely shine.shows grain well. No problems with rancidity to date.
However I mix well including mixing twice when setting in the first two hours. This seems to help cohesion.
Lynda
I was interested to learn what the difference between boiled and raw linseed oil might be in terms of wood preservation and your article answered that thank you. The reason being, Taylor Guitars recommend the boiled LO to treat the fingerboard now and again, usually when strings are changed. Its easy to see why now.
Excellent article. A model article for the conveyance of information in general.
Hi Robin,
I am thinking about making a wooden cake stand for my wedding but am unsure about how to ensure it is food safe, I know you have said that you use linseed oil, but would beeswax be ok to use as well?
Hello – I’ve enjoyed your blog! I’ve been using either hemp or coconut oil in my spoons. I’m also interested in trying the organic raw linseed oil. With the hemp or coconut oils I normally apply a generous coat and then place the spoon in the oven at 350 degrees for about 3-4 min, this process literally sucks the oil into the wood. In researching linseed oil it sounds like it may be more sensitive to heat than hemp or coconut, have you had any experience heating bowls or spoons after applying linseed oil?
Robin,
As usual a model of information! I am interested in making a couple of quaichs to share a good whiskey with. I typically use Mahoney’s Walnut or Walnut Oil and wax on anything that will touch food. Using a modern lathe I can build the heat so to speed polymerization.
You use raw linseed oil exclusively. I have no issues with your choice of finish. I am more interested how raw linseed oil, after drying, stands up to the alcohol in good whiskey? Does the linseed oil dissolve in the alcohol (nasty) or once polymerized, is the oil finish impervious to the alcohol?
Another possibility is you use do not use a finish in your quaichs. In which case what wood in North America would be of tight enough grain and neutral enough taste to work in a quaich?
Thanks,
Douglas R Jones
I use a hot dip in pure beeswax for my quaichs, alcohol dissolves cured oils. We don’t use walnut in the UK because of the nut allergy thing, it surprises me that people do not feel it is an issue in the US.
My daughter has just treated her 3 month old babies cot with cedar oil. I cant seem to find out whether it is safe for babies or for furniture. My grandson is now sleeping in the cot but I am concerned whether there may be long term effects on either the baby or the wood. (baby being most important of course).
Hi Christine and hi Robin…
Just hijacking your post Christine because I’m interested to hear Robin’s answer, and to ask my own question.
We have a new cot, just made from untreated pine, so nothing fancy but I do want it to last as long as possible. Last night I gave it one coat of raw linseed oil, applied liberally and wiped off with a cloth. Today it feels dry to the touch already, though I know it needs longer to cure. I came online to find out more about what to do now and I’m now worried I may have done the wrong thing! I don’t want it to go rancid…
Also, I want to know baby will be safe being in contact with it with their mouth and hands and that the cot and baby will continue to be safe should there be any ‘accidents’ further down the line!
Thanks Robin. Having discovered your blog I’m now off to browse your shop 🙂
Hi Jen,
Realistically oiling will not alter the lifespan of furniture kept indoors. When indoor furniture dies it is generally because the joints become loose and wobbly after years of use and abuse. If the joints are well made int eh first place it should last years. A dry wood surface however is like blotting paper and will attract stains and dirt much more easily than an oiled surface. A cured oiled surface can be wiped clean easily. Raw linseed is used as a food product in Sweden, it does not go rancid in the way that other veg oils do instead it cures when exposed to oxygen. I am 100% sure cot and baby will both be fine.
Thanks Robin, I appreciate your advice. I’ll look into giving it another coat in a few days perhaps.
Best wishes
Jen
Hi Christine I am afraid cedar oil is one I do not know about.
If you’re looking for Linseed Oil, whether it is fresh and for you to consume or you require some for your wood. We can help! http://www.thelinseedfarm.co.uk
Hello,
I wanted to know if it is okay to use mustard oil or almond oil? We find lots of this oil in Nepal and wanted an opinion on this.
Thank you
Sorry I do not know about mustard oil I am 99% sure almond oil does not set or cure so I would not use that.
Hello, Do you think that olive oil virgin extra is the best for wooden treatment?
Thanks
Did you read the blog post?
Hi Robin,
I am buying a japanese wooden practice sword (bokken). The makers recommend leaving it unvarnished and then treating it with tea oil (camellia japonica). I live in Israel and would rather use something local and less expensive. Do you have any suggestions? I guess oil would go rancid, but then tea oil doesn’t seem to set either and they recommend it.
Thanks.
Hi, just wanted to add to the last question – the bokken is made from Japanese white oak.
Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. Kudos
neverfull louis vuitton us http://afdesign.org/index.asp?url=neverfull-louis-vuitton-us-b-5931.html
We have a wonderful bare wood cabinet. Not sure of the wood. We purchased it in Florida and then moved to Wisconsin. The big difference is the average humidity. Over the last several years we have noticed small movement and minor warping in some parts of the piece. I have just now realized that it might be a good idea to see what I can do about this. A called to the original retailer who provided the recommendation of a high quality wax. After reading how a wax would seal the surface, I realized this is not really what I want. But I’m thinking that based on this article, the very dry wood should quickly soak up an oil. Would continued use of a non curing oil like olive oil “rehydrate” the wood? Could I then following this with treatments of a curing oil such as walnut or tung? Lastly, If such a treatment course helped to rehydrate the wood and reduce or reverse some of the warping that we see, could I then apply a wax to lock in the oils? Or should I just keep using oils?
Best,
I’ve just coated a new oak floor with four coats of warmed raw linseed oil, and have waited a week between each coat, so as to make sure that the floor was dry before applying the next coat. At the moment the floor is matt. I’ve tried buffing it with a cloth and a green pad, but it still remains matt. Is there anything I can do to give it a slight shine. I thought linseed oil would buff up, but it doesn’t seem to. Any suggestions? Have I done anything wrong?
good day to you. I’ve acquired a dining room set made out of a hardwood tree trunk. The wood was extremely dry, so I’ve treated it with raw linseed oil. I know want to polish it to a high gloss shine without varnishing it. Any ideas on how to get the natural wood to a perfect shine please? I’m also finding that the linseed oil does not buff up, no matter how hard you rub?
Regrds,
Betsie
Betsie high gloss shine is not something that I do but if that is what you want then it is all about surface preparation before you oil. The wood needs to be sanded properly to a very fine finish then the oil needs to be rubbed in with very fine abrasive. Commercial tree trunk furniture of the type you describe is generally sanded to maybe 120 grit and it needs doing with 240 grit then 40o then 600 before you get anything like a shine.
Just ruined a beautiful homemade table top I made by treating it with the walnut oil recommended on this site. After 4 weeks, it still hasn’t set, and anything made of paper left on the table for more than 10 minutes will start to absorb the oil back out. Warning.
Paul your table is not ruined, the oil will cure but it can take weeks as mentioned clearly in the post. How long varies with the oil, I have used some that goes off in days and others that take a couple of months. For a tabletop you could have considered the option of using an oil with drying agents added eg boiled linseed since it does not come into contact with food.
Hi Robin,
Im looking for an oil to put on an old oak beam that im using as a mantle.
Its splitting a bit too quickly and id like to find some kind of treatment to ‘moisturise’ it and slow the splitting down (I expect some splitting over time – especially as its over the fire). I came across your blog post and wondered if Walnut Oil might be the answer.
Do you think it would be appropriate for this use? Would it make the wood significantly darker?
Or any other ideas would be welcome.
Thanks
Jason
HI Jason,
To be honest if the beam is thick say 8″x 8″ then any surface treatment will do little to slow splitting. If it is an old beam then it should be 100% dry through to the centre so any movement going on now is just settling down to where it was when it was last in a house/barn rather than being equivalent to the seasoning of green wood. I would be inclined to not worry too much, let it do it’s thing for a couple of months then once it has settled down retouch the plasterwork/decoration up against it and think about any surface treatment you want to do if any. Oil would make it darker, if you want to see what it would look like paint some water on it, that is how much darker it would appear when oiled.
Hi Robin,
Thanks for responding so quickly.
Its not the wall and plaster work im worried about so much as the beam itself. It looks very old and is already split and cracked a fair bit as would be expected. Its been in place about a year and seems to have cracked a lot more in that relatively short time. Im guessing its getting very hot above the fire and cracking as a result.
I expect this to happen, but maybe not as quickly, im worried it will fall apart in a couple of years, then again maybe im worrying too much…?
I was just in Homebase seeing what they might have and found Teak Oil, it says on the tin it nourishes and helps protect against warping and cracking. Do you have any thoughts on using Teak Oil?
Thanks again
Jason
If it was old in the first place and has been over a fire for a year I would expect it has done the vast majority of the movement that it is going to do and I would not worry about it. Send me a photo by email if you want.
Thanks Robin,
I just emailed you a photo, what do you think?
Jason
Hemp oil is my favourite
Hi
I have a dining and living room set purchased 20 years ago in Africa. It’s solid black and yellow wood. Throughout the years I have been treating it with ‘Old English Oil’. The colour of the wood is starting to fade; can we use raw linseed oil? If not, which do you recommend? Also, is there a way for us to seal the wood so that it no longer requires continuous oiling?
Thanks
Magda
yes linseed is the oil I would use, they say for furniture once a day for a week, once a week for a year once a year for a lifetime. I have no idea what your “Old English Oil” is, most likely a mix of a drying oil like linseed or tung with chemical drying agent to speed drying and some thinners.
Re: “I would ideally like to find a UK farm or oil mill where I could buy cold pressed organic oil.”
Have you check out http://thelinseedfarm.co.uk
yes I have been using them for several years now, lovely folk
Hi Robin,
I am wondering what product I could use to remove walnut oil from wood?
Both cured and uncured states.
sorry I do not know
Hi,
Would the brand Naissance organic cold pressed linseed/flaxseed oil work? It’s the only one I have found on amazon that is both reasonably priced and organic.
I’m looking to oil a handmade walking stick.
Thank you,
Chris
Not a brand I know. All linseed/flax sets but it varies in the time it takes. Most stickmakers would use a boiled linseed which has drying agents added to make it set quicker. My comments here are primarily aimed at treating woodware for food use so I don’t want drying agents.
Hi Robin, I was idly wondering today whether perhaps linseed oil’s relative weakness to mildew (fungal) attack might be reduced by adding a small quantity of cedar or sandalwood oil. Do you know if this has been tried? I’ve had some luck using penetrating fungal/woodworm treatment before oiling but it’d be nice to have a one-step process.
As I understand it it is protein that is subject to mildew and oils vary in how much protein survives the pressing process. Some seem not to mildew at. It’s not something I have much experience of since I mostly use linseed on wood that spends most of it’s time dry. Mildew tends to be an issue on window frames in damp environments etc .
Hi Robin,
Last summer my wife was deep frying fish in rapeseed oil on the deck outside. Unfortunately the wok pan with hot rapeseed oil fell on the deck and fish was wasted, luckily no injuries. However the wood of the deck sucked the hot rapeseed oil almost instantly and and it still looks nice. Now I’m planning to treat the whole deck with hot rapeseed oil, but before I do that I want to ask your opinion.
Can wood that has been oiled receive a coat of polyurethane afterwards?
I accidentally spilled some citronella oil on a beautiful piece of mesquite which is already sanded and ready for stain/polyurethane.
Is it ruined???? What should we do?
I hate everything about polyurethane it is made in nasty factories, it gives of noxious fumes and whilst some like its shiny bling when new it ages in the most unpleasant way eventually chipping off and looking very nasty.
Hi robin, i have been using your bog standard unboiled linseed oil on my bowls. prior to reading one or two of your articles i have been applying it with a cloth as is. would you recommend heating it to speed drying time?(as mentioned in another blog you use a deep fat fryer?), would you be able to direct me to a source of good cold pressed linseed oil? (i live in north wales, sadly i don’t think i know anyone in sweden right now), would you re-coat your bowls with oil several times before selling them or is this more a technique to attain a high sheen? and is there a particular test to know when linseed oil has truly set? i suppose i’m worried about selling bowls which are not yet truly ready to be used for eating from. may i also say that your blogs are very informative and i find your passion for woodturning inspirational.
sorry for long overdue response. I buy from the linseed farm in the UK google them. I use one treatment only, multiple treatments will build up more gloss. I use bowls before the oil is fully cured but the way to tell is sit it on a piece of kitchen paper overnight, if it leaves no mark the oil is dry.
Hi, very informing blog.
I live in Scandinavia. I use virgin (as in “cold” pressed, unrefined and chemically untreated) linseed oil from Scandinavia for treating all my tools – both metal and wood. I like the fact that it is a slow and rather time consuming process. I furthermore like the fact that I can use my bare hands to apply the oil and the fact that it is safe to ingest wheter willingly or unwillingly. It can be made to “set” (prepolymerize) some what faster if you “wash” it (like for high quality DIY oil paint) but I normally do not find that necessary for tool applications. There are lots of different recipies for washing linseed oil (just do a google search).
I have used “boiled” (as in “hot” pressed, refined and chemically treated) linseed oil in the past but no more. It dries out the skin on my hands and forearms and I would not consider it safe to ingest.
Be aware of the fact that “raw” linseed oil does not automatically mean a cold pressed, unrefined and chemically untreated oil of high quality. I learned this the hard way when I accidentally came about two bottles of “raw” linseed oil from the same manufacturer – the “raw” but cold pressed and virgin one was more than double the price of the just “raw” one. YOU GO DO THE MATH! It is not only that the colours are not the same but they do not have the same characteristics. This is thus not a simnple rebranding of the same oil with a premium sticker for the premium stores. Also beware of any mention of VOC (volatile organic compunds) above 0 on the sticker.
I always keep a cloth saturated in this oil in a sealable bag in my gear when out in the woods. It makes it easy to wipe over all my tools once they have been cleaned and honed – normally once every day before you go to bed.
I also like tung oil but it is not “native” to Scandinavia and it is hard to find high quality virgin tung oil – even online.
I have just recently rehelved two of my Swedish axes with wood that is “native” to Scandinavia. I made the helves a long time ago so they are fully cured with som 20+ thin layers of linseed oil. I guess I am one of the few who thinks that american hickory does not belong on a Swedish axe in the first place and that it is totally absurd to first ail it across the Atlantic as unprocessed wood and then sail it back across the Atlantic as helves on Swedish axes for the North Maerican market.
An excellent article! Thank you Robin. I’m off to the supermarket to buy some walnut oil for the garden furniture. Can walnut oil be thinned using Bio ethanol so it can be placed in a sprayer? (I have lots of garden furniture and find spraying much quicker)
Thank you in advance.
Kevin
Hi Robin,
Thanks to the blog post – really helpful. I’ve been reading Willie Sundqvist’s book and he suggests boiling wooden spoons in milk to treat them. Do you have any experience/ thoughts on this?
not tried it but have friends that have, works well for small objects
Hi Robin, have been using raw linseed oil to finish wooden kids toys, just wanting to give customers another option… Do you know how durable coconut oil is long-term in comparison to linseed? Thanks heaps!! Benita
no sorry
Hi Robin, nice article. Just a quick question, I have made a shot glass (from wood) and treated it with danish wood oil, then suddenly realised is this safe for drinking out of? Cant find any answers easily on the internet hoping you could help. Thanks,
Alex
Danish oil passes most govt tests for being harmless once fully cured though it has chemical thinners in it which are harmfull untill htey are fully evaporated. I personally would not want to put anything on my woodware that was not in itself a food product.
Hi Robin,
I’m a Viking reenactor looking to oil my wooden bowls and spoons. Walnuts were an imported food to the UK at the time and probably very expensive, so walnut oil is right out for me. I’ve been advised by some other reenactors that linseed oil requires lots of re-applications. In your post you say that your bowls don’t need retreating, but I’m slightly confused as to whether you’re talking about linseed or walnut treatment. Someone has also suggested the possibility of mixing an oil in with beeswax. Is this a good idea, with linseed oil, and if so do you have any ratios you could suggest?
Thank you, I found this post very informative.
I would use linseed and a single application is enough if the wood is bone dry the oil penetrates right through. Folk often ask what oils were used historically, I discuss it at some length in my book the wooden bowl. Sadly it is not possible to be sure since finding say mutton fat in a bowl analysis could be an original treatment or the last meal.
hi. I am from Canada and would like to know where I could purchase the linseed oil you get from Sweden. as I do not care for the yellowing on some things. thank you
Hej.
I am in the process of building a sauna in my garden. I am making it from pine, as my budget would not extend to cedar. I want to treat the wood, and I found some Swedish paraffin-based products. Would you think that walnut or linseed oil would be better? Would they be bothered by the heat?
Peter
I personally would use linseed I am not a fan of products of the petrochemical industry, especially when there is a good natural sustainable alternative and yes its fine with heat.
I really appreciate your article — thanks! In it you state that the oil cures over time, but how do you know when it is cured and okay to use? Or would you go ahead and use and wash the item, knowing that eventually it will set? Also, can I just wipe the oil on a spoon (carved from dried wood) and wipe off the excess, or is heating and/or long soaking essential?
Hi, Robin. In my last days on this Earth before my wife finds out what i have done, I wonder if you can advise me on the best course of action before I depart this realm. I spilled olive oil on the wood floor in the kitchen and didn’t know it for a good 10 hours until I picked up the plastic bag containing “empty” olive oil cans and found that the bag had leaked, leaving very dark splotches across six wood pieces of flooring. So, I showed a carpenter a picture and he recommended sunflower oil to darken the entire floor. I think the dark area looks nice. Is this an option? Is this the right oil or should it be linseed oil? is there any way to remove the stained planks, replace them and color match? Each plank is 60 x 7 cm. I do not know what kind of wood it is. I think it is oak.
Thanks…
I’d start by trying to draw as much of the olive oil out as possible by laying newspaper over it or any dry substance, maybe rice? If you like the dark then yes I would definitely prefer linseed to sunflower for all the reasons mentioned in the article. For a floor I would consider using boiled linseed which has drying agents added, this makes it set more quickl;y, not good for on food surfaces but fine on a floor.
Hello Robin,
what should be the best option for coating a pine wood table which is gonna be outdoors, posibly totally exposed to sun and rain?
Thanks in advance
Hello, I’m looking for an oil for a new oak worktop and am persuaded by your blog to go for linseed or walnut – are you able to divulge which Swedish linseed brand you use? And, as I’m not using commercially, is there a brand/farm you recommend for walnut oil? Many thanks!
I am now buying my oil from the linseed farm in the UK. Walnut I buy from the supermarket.
Any wood / oil / stain recommendations for new garage doors to prolong long term life
on outdoor wood I personally still use raw linseed because that is what I have around and I don’t mind if it takes a while to cure. If I had no oil around I would consider buying boiled linseed which would cure faster.
Whats the role of mineral turpentine? I have been told to use that over my wooden table before coating with finishing oil
turpentine thins the oil and helps it penetrate, I warm the oil instead does the same thing without the smell.
I have a wooden table I have been treating with lemon oil for years. I recently moved to a new home. Not the oil seems to soak into the table and not stay glossy. The table is subject to mor sun in this house than the previous house. Could this be my problem? Any suggestions on how to solve my problem?
Hi robin
I have an old picnic table made from tantalised pine–I have rubbed it down to a non sawn state. IE a smooth surface— what would be the best oil to coat it apart from linseed oil ?
Dear Robin,
we have been offered a solid wood cot for our baby, but would like to sand it back to the real wood below, with a fine sandpaper then apply some sort of matt long lasting sealant which is obviously very smooth and non-porous, but must be food friendly in case our baby chews the wood. There are lots of paints which conform to BS EN71 food guidelines but i am struggling to find a wood treatment. I really don’t want a shiny finish. Any help you can give us would be hugely appreciated.
Many thanks.
Sarah
I personally would use raw linseed for all the reasons given in the blog post
Hi what’s best to put on a wooden bench that sits outside in Spain all year tank you
Great information, thanks!
I would like to get the same Swedish lineseed oil as you have.
I will use it for my new walnut board floor… I don’t want it to look yellowish and I want a natural, non-toxic product.
Is there any known producer, brand or a location where it comes from or is any Swedish oil good?
Thanks a lot!
I bought mine at Saterglantan the national craft school shop, I now use oil from the linseed farm in the UK