Cutting Board Finish

[ronlaughlin]

A good finish for cutting boards is a mix of mineral oil, and paraffin. It is applied hot, and when cooled it is not oily. When cooled it hardens. Cutting boards with this finish don't feel oily, they are kinda waxy. After the finish is worn after many uses, it can be easily repaired. Heat the hard finish in a microwave, until it is a liquid, and apply the finish to the board using a shop towel.





Cutting board after months of use.

Fresh Finished

Cold Solid Finish

Half Melted Finish

Liquid Finsih

Hardening Finish, Scrub With Shop Towel Now

Fresh Finished

This is an end grain cutting board. When in use, the knife does not cut through the wood fibers; damaging them. The knife pushes the fibers apart; cutting along side of the fibers, not through them.

 

[MSalyards]

50/50?

 

[Idaholewis]

It looks darn good Ron!

 

[ronlaughlin]

Them end grain boards feel good when cutting on them too. Kinda like pushing a perfect fitting bullet to the powder.

 

[ronlaughlin]

50/50?

Seems like that would be too much paraffin, but never have measured. The mix used on this board seemed too rich in paraffin. Next time a batch is mixed, seems i should pay better attention. The correct proportion should maybe be one that just turns solid when it is totally cooled. Too little paraffin would be oily; perhaps too much, is better than too little??