Comments on: Cutting Board Finish: Revisited

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:57:19 +0000

Yeah I think we’re talking about the same stuff. White spirits = mineral spirits.

By: chippysteveo

chippysteveo — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:49:56 +0000

Does it matter if I use a spirit based varnish and use white spirit to thin it down. It seems to have worked well

By: Oliver Warlow

Oliver Warlow — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:00:01 +0000

Hi Ron,
Just a small note about Tung Oil, It is a nut oil.
Though it is food safe anyone with a nut allergy (myself included) will have a reaction to the oil or anything prepared on that surface. In the USA approx 6.9 million citizens have a nut allergy and in the UK about 1 in 100 people will have the allergy. I would not reccomend it simply due to the high likelihood that someone could be harmed by it.
Oliver

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:05:26 +0000

I would dilute the varnish by about 75% if it is full-strength.

By: Lynda LaLonde

Lynda LaLonde — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:45:09 +0000

Please tell me how to dilute the varnish. I am going to use maple flooring, applied to 1/2″ plywood. I will need to put a finish and will use mineral oil if I have to but am liking your thought process with the varnish finish. Thank you.

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:16:23 +0000

Yes, paraffin oil should be the same thing as mineral oil.

By: Jørgen

Jørgen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:34:35 +0000

Hello
I live in Norway, and i can’t find mineral oil anywhere (at least not in a sensible quantity).
I have how ever seen parafin oil, which as I understand is basically the same thing, been used for cutting boards.
Any thoughts?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:30:16 +0000

After talking to toxic substance specialists at my job (I work for a health department), I decided that the salad bowl finish w/ mineral spirits is just fine and safe. I’m going with that from now on :)

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:58:51 +0000

Thanks for the quick response. I did look at the spec/safety sheet for the General Finish salad bowl finish, and it does indeed contain mineral spirits on its own. But they do specify that it should not be used for chopping blocks, they recommend mineral oil for that. I assume they give this warning for legal purposes because the varnish is not “officially” approved for this purpose.

Have you ever tried or heard of using mineral spirit alternatives, like Citrus-based ones? Maybe this isn’t good because it could spoil:
http://www.realmilkpaint.com/citrus.html

One last question (ok, a few) – should I go with the mineral oil/wax mixture…

1. Any reason to go with beeswax over parafin?
2. Once the mixture goes to room temperature, does it harden? Could I supply each person for whom I make a cutting board a little container of it so they could reapply as necessary?
3. How often (approximate) should the oil/wax mixture be reapplied? Less often than straight mineral oil?

Sorry this post is so long! I plan to start my first cutting board tonight….my first real woodworking project alltogether, 100% inspired by your video, thanks!

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:41:55 +0000

Hey Andrew. Many dangerous/toxic chemicals can be safe after they evaporate. Any residue left behind is washed away with soap and water. All that’s really left on the surface is resin. And many companies sell varnish for food items that is FDA approved. These all contain mineral spirits or naptha, just like their “non FDA appproved” cousins. But if you aren’t comfortable with it, don’t use it. You can always go the mineral oil route. Just keep in mind that if you dig deeper into that topic, you will find folks who are afraid to use mineral oil as it is actually a petroleum produce. All depends on how deep you want to go down the rabbit hole. :)