I finally got around to putting mineral oil on the those board about 1000 this morning on one side. They still feels slightly damp.  Question how long does it takes for the board to absorb the oil?   I still need to oil the other side.  I moved them into he kitchen to oil them so I could start working and cutting the MDF board for the router table and be able to have time to air clean the garage shop for tonight when taking the boards back in the shop.  Trying to do this with out my wife knowing this.  Don't want her to think I'm expanding the shop.

Wayne E

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Wayne E

Not sure of the "right" way but, I usually slop it on pretty heavy with a oil soaked cloth, then add more in areas that soak in. I usually do the entire board top/bottom/edges all at once. I have some home made painter's points that support the boards or just lay them on wax paper. Allow them to set over night and add a second coat the next day. If they soak up the second coat and the surface looks dry, I'll add a third coating. After another day, I wipe off any access oil. In time (and with use) the board will need re-oiled.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Wayne, Lew is right on with what I do. If it is an edge grain board it will not soak up as much as an end grain board. I put it on all sides at the same time. If they look dry put on more. Then at some point I wipe off any excess with a paper towel. Since it is going to be her's as long as it is covered good you can add more after she opens it for Christmas. I usually leave them over night and see how they look and then either put them away or add more and give them a while.

As I said though edge or face grain will not soak it up as fast as the end grain.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

When I do the oil on my cutting boards I will take a couple of large yard waste trash bags and tear them at the seams on the side so I get a single layer of the material to put over the work bench with them overlapping to cover the entire bench. Then I tape them down to keep then from moving using the blue painters tape. I then slather the oil on the bottom and edges first and let them soak in about 20-30 minutes and then slather on a 2nd coat and then flip them over onto the plastic with the top surface up. Then I put a couple coats on the top side and let it soak. I will come back out later and reapply the oil to the top and sides again until they won't absorb any more and then let them sit overnight. The plastic is great for getting the bottom side to soak in as much oil as the board can take without me having to flip them back forth. The plastic also keeps the oil from getting on the bench. When done I fold up the sides of the plastic and toss it in the trash.

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Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

cool idea!

Allen Worsham said:

When I do the oil on my cutting boards I will take a couple of large yard waste trash bags and tear them at the seams on the side so I get a single layer of the material to put over the work bench with them overlapping to cover the entire bench. Then I tape them down to keep then from moving using the blue painters tape. I then slather the oil on the bottom and edges first and let them soak in about 20-30 minutes and then slather on a 2nd coat and then flip them over onto the plastic with the top surface up. Then I put a couple coats on the top side and let it soak. I will come back out later and reapply the oil to the top and sides again until they won't absorb any more and then let them sit overnight. The plastic is great for getting the bottom side to soak in as much oil as the board can take without me having to flip them back forth. The plastic also keeps the oil from getting on the bench. When done I fold up the sides of the plastic and toss it in the trash.

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Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

Now - if I could just figure out what an Alabama Borad is, I'll be all right.  (BIG grin here, John)  -  I hate it when my keyboard doesn't tpe wht my mind is thinking.

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'

I put a light coat of oil on my boards after completing them and tell my customers to add a coat a week for the first 4-6 weeks then a coat a month for the first year. after that a coat every 3-4 months will suffice.

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Round Barn WoodCrafts, Plymouth WI
roundbarnwoodcrafts@hotmail.com

Call me lazy, but I like to immerse the board in oil, I use a poly bag put the board in with as much oil as it takes then suck the air out of the bag and seal it off. Then I just put it somewhere and forget about it save for turning it over every once in a while.  After a few weeks it's saturated. 

An Alabama board is made from Maple And Bloodwood. Lol

I wish I could soak them that long cliff, but they go out of here faster than that. I can't get that far ahead.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Same for me John. Plus I don't want to run the risk of getting oil all over my customers clothing

John Moody said:

An Alabama board is made from Maple And Bloodwood. Lol

I wish I could soak them that long cliff, but they go out of here faster than that. I can't get that far ahead.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

I wish I could soak them that long cliff, but they go out of here faster than that. I can't get that far ahead.

I'm most happy to learn that.   Many years ago  I tried my hand at vocational woodworking.  It wasn't pretty.

Thanks Cliff, I have been blessed for sure.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com