Getting a food safe shiny finish on cutting boards

[Zacharytanner]

Guys
New to cutting boards AND can't get a shiny finish with butcher block oil
Sanding to 400 grit

Thanks
Frank

 

[tjbnwi]

All the cutting boards I have done are oiled. Never considered a shinny finish for it. Won't be shinny long after a knife got to it.

If it is a display board any oil should do.

Tom

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]A popular product Down Here is OrganOil Hard Burninshing Oil.

Quote:-
If a higher lustre is desired carry on polishing using 1500 grit. 24 hours after, buff using a lambs wool pad.
Full product sheet - http://www.organoil.com.au/HARD%20BURNISHING%20OIL.doc
[size=10pt]
I generally use this product as if it was Festool Oil using the green and white Villies, and having previously sanded the, in my case, bench tops, to 320/400 grit. 24 hrs after oiling I buff with the Festool Felt or Lambswool Pads.
[size=13pt]
However I suggest you check on line for the specification sheets of products available to you, re how high a paper grade you can use.

 

[rvieceli]

Frank what are you using for oil now?

In reality, a cutting board that is to be used is going to need an oil finish that at best gives you a matte finish or possibly what could pass for low sheen satin. I make a bunch and like to use straight mineral oil. Around here you can get it at Walmart for about 2 bucks a pint. You can also mix in a bit of bees wax.

 

[Zacharytanner]

Butcher block oil

 

[tjbnwi]

I also use mineral oil.

I looked at the Boos website, they have a couple of sealing products.

http://www.johnboos.com/Items_page.asp?s=r&SalesCode=&Prod=2&Page=29&Group=60&hdg=Boos%20Board%20Cream%20%20&nsf=False&nsfc=False&csa=False

Tom

 

[Theshipstore]

Mineral oil works for me. Matte finish but it is a cutting board after all

Walnut slab for my wife

 

[tjbnwi]

A few cutting boards with mineral oil.

Tom

 

[Theshipstore]

Tom.  Nice work

 

[Wooden Skye]

You could give gloss arm r seal a try.  After it dries, it is food safe.

 

[tjbnwi]

Honestly, I would not want anything on my cutting board that could affect my blade edge. I take great care of my knives.

Tom

 

[teocaf]

You could give gloss arm r seal a try.  After it dries, it is food safe.

i don't believe so.  when it dries (12 to 24+ hours) for this product, you can add another coat.
when it cures fully (about 2 weeks) and the molecules get all crosslinked, then it will be food-safe.
at least this is my understanding from bob flexner's book.

 

[Burl]

If you want a shiny finish Try General Finishes Salad bowl finish.
https://generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-top-coats/salad-bowl-finish#.Ve-r--lih9Y

for a oiled board you can apply a beeswax or hard wax like bioshield 32 and buff to a sheen.

however I think mineral oil remains the best option for food safety and ease of maintenance. 

 

[#Tee]

a shinny board sounds like a fancy show piece. its basically a work bench for food. let us know what you end up using to achieve this.

 

[teocaf]

If you want a shiny finish Try General Finishes Salad bowl finish.
https://generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-top-coats/salad-bowl-finish#.Ve-r--lih9Y

for a oiled board you can apply a beeswax or hard wax like bioshield 32 and buff to a sheen.

however I think mineral oil remains the best option for food safety and ease of maintenance.

if you look at the FAQ at the bottom of the page of the link you provided, you'll see that the salad bowl finish is not recommended for cutting boards--not at full strength, anyway.  but i think that you can get a mixture of carnauba wax, beeswax and mineral oil to a pretty nice shine with some good buffing.

 

[Tinker]

A few cutting boards with mineral oil.

Tom

@ tjbnwi,
that brick and mortar cutting board has to be a bit harsh on the cutlery. [poke]

Aside from that, they all look great.  What are the bricks?  They look like cherry.
I hope you don't mind if i steal the idea.  I have friends on my gift list who knew me when i was "The Stoned Mason."

I have done a couple of butcher blocks and a whole lot of lazy susans and I use a mix of mineral oil and canning wax melted together.  I wipe it on and either nuke it for about 15-20 seconds or use a hair dryer on it.  I can do several applications before it stops soaking in.  i then wait a couple of days and do the same thing again. 
Tinker

 

[tjbnwi]

Yep, they're cherry, "mortar" is maple.

Tom

 

[Cheese]

[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member]
I really like the bricks & mortar version. [thumbs up] It's so unusual, I've never seen it before.

 

[SethThompson]

I might just be a little slow, but when I looked for mineral oil at the grocery store all I found was a mineral oil laxative haha. Is this the same thing? I realize that once it's dry you wouldn't have anything to worry about. I only ask because it struck me as a bit odd to cover a cutting board with laxative.  [tongue] Thanks

 

[tbellemare]

It's a laxative.

Tom