First Board!

[ColinCB]

Got the Maple Carolina Slab for Christmas! It arrived at my house over a month ago, but I was barred from using it until the 25th! It's a beautiful board! Very nice pattern (in the wood), heavy, and looks great.

Unfortunately being the new guy to high quality boards, I didn't season before using.



Does anybody know where I can get the right USP food safe Mineral Oil? For whatever reason I can only find the typical cleaning oil.

[chazmtb]

Available at your local pharmacy. I have CVS brand mineral oil that is used for laxatives.

[SpikeC]

I got my last bottle at an Ace hardware store.

[Vils]

I use the beeswax/mineral oil mix from Dave Martell.

[Eamon Burke]

Dave's board butter stuff is made from beeswax that comes via the local Amish folks there in PA. Pretty freaking sweet if you ask me.

[The BoardSMITH]

My mineral oil comes from Texas and the bees wax from the foothills of North Carolina. Mineral oilm is available in most any drug store in the laxitive section and at many grocery stores that have a pharmacy. The label will read USP or Laxitive. Don't worry about getting the wrong stuff, it is usually colored red and sold as either transmision fluid or hydraulic oil.

[ColinCB]

Thanks for all the help.

Somehow I completely forgot that it is used as a laxative! I was at the pharmacy today, dang!


Dave, I've been reading a lot about seasoning from here and on your FAQ. Am I okay just using mineral oil for now? Also, I looked in the basement for it and we had it, but it was not USP and it was clear!

[The BoardSMITH]

As long as the label reads "USP" or "Laxitive" you will be okay. But, if it has been left in the basement for a period of time, I would obtain a fresh bottle from a local drug or grocery store.

[ColinCB]

As long as the label reads "USP" or "Laxitive" you will be okay. But, if it has been left in the basement for a period of time, I would obtain a fresh bottle from a local drug or grocery store.

Whoops, I meant, just using mineral oil and not the oil and butter.

[Vils]

I got my second board today:bliss: A 12x18" mahogny that I intends to use for proteins mainly. My first board (16x22) is a tad too cumbersome to rinse of in the sink so the new board will be a perfect complement.

[TB_London]

I don't have a board smith (yet) but my standard procedure for new wood boards is to keep applying mineral oil until it stops soaking in, then use a homemade beeswax and mineral oil mix for maintenance. If you wax early on it can form a layer on the surface stopping the oil from seeping in. I'd listen to what the board smith himself says for his products though, oh and congrats on the new board :D

[ColinCB]

Any idea how much oil I'll need? I've been oiling it 3-4 times a week for 2 weeks and it's still not saturated! Am I missing something here?

[zitangy]

Any idea how much oil I'll need? I've been oiling it 3-4 times a week for 2 weeks and it's still not saturated! Am I missing something here?

Its not so much the number of times that yu apply but how much you apply each time..... Flooding or pools of oil tells you that it can't absorb any more. IF it is really dry.. it will be like quick sand.. oil disappears. That is your gauge...

a) I would literally squirt or pour mineral oil and spread it over with bare hands. IF the board is thirsty.. it will literally soak it up. What you want ot see is that the surface layer IS NOT flooded, then it can consume more! Even if it is flooded.. it will only be for a few minutes.. ON new boards I wld keep on applying after every 20 min or so adn leave alone. WHEn it is still dry, I will add more. TEH time the board floods easily.. it has enough! DO this to both sides..

b) there after, I would wld apply bees wax and mineral oil as it leaves a layer of protection (wax) BEes wax with mineral oil is not penetrative enough.



Have fun..

rgds

DL

[ColinCB]

I was doing multiple applications as I heard that even with a thick board, they can still possibly warp.

At this point, it's definitely still dry. Guess it's back to the board! Maybe this time with a sponge.

[The BoardSMITH]

Cutting boards need only enough oil to coat their surfaces, they do not need to be completely saturated from top to bottom. When the area most used starts looking lighter in color than the surrounding area, it is then time to oil. On occasion, oil the bottom and sides as well to keep the oil layer even in the wood.

Ask Ryan, you can oil a board to much. When the temperature rises or the board comes into direct contact with sunlight, the oil will seep to the surface and look like it is sweating. Over a period of years you might be able to saturate the board completely but not in two or three weeks.

The application of oil is intended to be a moisture barrier of sorts. You can't stop all the moisture from being absorbed but you can slow it down somewhat. Warping comes from a prolonged exposure to water in a specific spot or area. The water swells the wood fibers and starts the warping. The best defense against warping is to keep the board dry. The second best defense is to oil.

Enjoy using the board.

[El Pescador]

Once an hour for a day, once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year...

[ColinCB]

Thanks a lot for all of the information! It's definitely awesome to use!

[Mr. Clean]

Do Dave's board come with a spot of oil by chance?

[ColinCB]

I believe Dave oils them just a bit before they ship out, but other than that, you need to go out and buy the oil.

[WildBoar]

I believe Dave oils them just a bit before they ship out, but other than that, you need to go out and buy the oil.x2. And you can by board wax from him, but I don't believe he sells the straight-up mineral oil.

[ColinCB]

Mineral oil is easy to source at any decent pharmacy. I found mine in the laxative section. Make sure it's the food safe/USP version though.

[Johnny.B.Good]

Mineral oil is easy to source at any decent pharmacy. I found mine in the laxative section. Make sure it's the food safe/USP version though.

Or hardware store.

[ejd53]

I just get mine at Walgreens. I also use Dave's board butter.

[echerub]

If you've got an Ikea nearby, their price for mineral oil is pretty good. Otherwise I've gotten good deals from HomeSense, but I don't know if these guys exist in the United States.

[Chef Niloc]

A little off subject (but not realy), but what do you think about the Jojoba oil? It's thin and absorbs easily, does not go rancid, and is a liquid wax, not a true oil. Has great moisturizing properties, food safe. Any thoughts?