17
Feb
Tung Oil is easy to maintain. But to keep it simple heres one rule to live by.
Mineral oil heated and mixed with bees wax provides a very nice seal coal.
Can you use tung oil on a cutting board. You can safely use tung oil on a cutting board but only if its pure. Since pure tung oil is natural and food-safe its one of the best finishes for any food-related woodworking project without a doubt. Cutting Board Care and Feeding To answer your original question you could use pure tung oil on a cutting board but I wouldnt suggest it.
Once its cured it is food safe but pure tung oil can take weeks to cure. Neds hangover is from the fumes of the uncured product. There is one major disadvantage to using tung oil.
A 12122 end grain cutting board can easily soak up 30 worth of oil. More if you wantit would be wonderful to have a fully impregnated cutting board and it would last forever you could probably use it in the microwave and put it in the dishwasher. As advertised walnut oil will provide a hardened surface after being exposed to UVs.
Mineral oil will need additional coats as it drys out. Tung oil needs to be thinned to penetrate better in the first coats. Mineral oil heated and mixed with bees wax provides a very nice seal coal.
Tung Oil never dries and you cant get a good result from it. Yes it does and yes you can. Almost all experts agree that using a cloth moistened with warm water is the easiest way to raise the grain on your project before oiling.
This should be done before you apply tung oil. If you dont want to use mineral oil you can also use beeswax beeswax-based board cream usually a blend of beeswax and mineral oil or fractionated coconut oil. Other wood oils like linseed walnut or tung oil are not good choices as they may contain allergenic materials or undergo a manufacturing process that renders them toxic for food contact surfaces.
You can also know its time to use the board oil when the cutting board feels lighter and looks dry. Even better an independent research by the University of Illinois confirmed that Boos Block Mystery Oil and Board Cream has antimicrobial properties that reduce bacterial level to a. This is a non-toxic non-drying oil that is commonly used on butcher block tables and cutting boards.
It must be re-applied as often as monthly and will become brittle and crack if not maintained so be sure to keep a bottle on hand. Another concern for many is the toxicity levels on treated wood items used for food and toys. Boiled linseed oil and tung oils are the least toxic finishes you can use.
Shellacs and water-based finishes are the next best options in this regard. Finally finishes like lacquers represent the most toxic finishes you will use. Dont thin tung oil if youre planning on treating surfaces that will be used for culinary purposes like countertops cutting boards and spoons.
While the oil itself is naturally non-toxic chemical solvents can leach into foods that come into contact with the surface making them harmful to ingest. If your board has stains or smells you can use lemon juice or white vinegar directly on the area. The acid in these liquids will neutralize the organic material or fats causing the problem.
How to Apply Cutting Board Oil and Board Cream. Once your cutting board is thoroughly dry apply the oil directly onto the surface of the board. But to keep it simple heres one rule to live by.
Do not use cooking oils to oil your cutting board. Canola oil vegetable oil coconut oil olive oil and so on will go rancid and leave an awful smell on your butcher block. Stick to food-grade mineral oil natural wood oil cutting board.
When it comes to seasoning cutting boards mineral oils like linseed mystery or tung arent very ideal to use anyways. Mineral oil treatments create a thin layer of sealant make the wood impermeable somewhat like a plastic cutting board is an effect that allows for bacteria to stay alive for longer on a wooden surface. Tung Oil is naturally water food and alcohol resistant.
It is safe for food contact when dry and can be used for salad bowls and chopping boards. Tung Oil is easy to maintain. Re-application of one or two thin coats once a year will keep wood looking naturally fresh.
Tung Oil Finishing. For a total of 4 coats recommended on a medium sized cutting board mix 30ml 1 fl oz. Or 2 tbsp of Tung Oil and the same quantity of solvent in a clean recipient.
The mix can be kept for a long time if you prepared too much for your needs and can be used to. Tung oil never dries and is a real pain to work with. While its true it takes tung oil a little longer to dry than lesser oils and youll need to put in a little more effort to achieve the perfect finish all that time on the front end means a long-lasting more brilliant result you.