Shopsmith Forums

MrDanB wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 6:03 pm Any suggestions on food grade protectant/stains for this?

Looks good. Unless you have a nut allergy, I recommend walnut oil. Most woodturners use it for a food safe finish. The brand I use is Mahoney's (see link below). Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

https://www.rockler.com/mahoney-s-food- ... o=shopping

RFGuy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 6:28 pm

MrDanB wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 6:03 pm Any suggestions on food grade protectant/stains for this?

Looks good. Unless you have a nut allergy, I recommend walnut oil. Most woodturners use it for a food safe finish. The brand I use is Mahoney's (see link below). Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

https://www.rockler.com/mahoney-s-food- ... o=shopping

Great! I'll look into that.

Mineral oil?

JPG wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 11:13 pmMineral oil?

Not really recommended anymore. Keep in mind that mineral oil is derived from petroleum. Yes, there are food safe grades of it, but I'll let the link below explain more about it. Mineral oil alone won't waterproof the wood, so often another oil, like walnut oil, is blended with it, so why not use something like walnut oil to begin with (except for the cost)?

https://www.realmilkpaint.com/blog/tips ... d9za9uWKE3

RFGuy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 6:34 am

JPG wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 11:13 pmMineral oil?

Not really recommended anymore. Keep in mind that mineral oil is derived from petroleum. Yes, there are food safe grades of it, but I'll let the link below explain more about it. Mineral oil alone won't waterproof the wood, so often another oil, like walnut oil, is blended with it, so why not use something like walnut oil to begin with (except for the cost)?

https://www.realmilkpaint.com/blog/tips ... d9za9uWKE3

OK! Plant based oils. BLO?

JPG wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 11:46 am OK! Plant based oils. BLO?

JPG,

I am no expert, but I think BLO has additives that make it NOT food safe. Another thing to consider is whether or not a plant based oil will go rancid. Maybe someone with more experience can comment on this part? I have had good luck with walnut oil on woodturnings, like bowls, that need to be food safe, but I can't speak to long term issues, if there are any. Supposedly walnut oil is more likely to solidify than go rancid. Assuming that is true, I wonder how other food safe type oils compare in this regard. Perhaps being open to air and drying on the wood lowers the likelihood of a particular oil going rancid? Or maybe walnut oil is special in this regard. I just know I have seen quite a few woodturners recommend walnut oil specifically for items that contact food you eat.

Wonder if 'walnut' oil refers to the source or the color?

JPG wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 12:04 pm Wonder if 'walnut' oil refers to the source or the color?

Mahoney's brand states "100% pure walnut oil", so it is the source. The YT vid at the link below explains more about it. Mike Mahoney is famous in woodturning and this is the natural wood finish that he came up with to sell to customers that purchase his prized bowls that he turns. Hence Mahoney's is the brand name.

https://woodturnerscatalog.com/products ... 5U9GF4OMVQ

Now I'm wondering if Walnut oil from the grocery store would work just as well. I just checked at Kroger.com, and a 16.9 oz. bottle of 100% "slowly roasted, expeller pressed, and lightly filtered" walnut oil sells for $11.49 at my local store. The label recommends the stuff for "salad dressings, baked goods, and as a light drizzle on all your dishes."

There's no word, unfortunately, on whether their definition of "dishes" includes wooden ones.

BuckeyeDennis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 12:22 pm Now I'm wondering if Walnut oil from the grocery store would work just as well. I just checked at Kroger.com, and a 16.9 oz. bottle of 100% "slowly roasted, expeller pressed, and lightly filtered" walnut oil sells for $11.49 at my local store. The label recommends the stuff for "salad dressings, baked goods, and as a light drizzle on all your dishes."

There's no word, unfortunately, on whether their definition of "dishes" includes wooden ones.

A couple of relevant reviews from Kroger.com:


And now I'm just getting hungry!