Cutting Boards

Finishing a Cutting Board with Natural Oils

Cutting boards are an excellent introductory project to learn about working with natural oil finishes. They’re low stakes and can be easily completed in a short morning. Here are a few suggestions for using our natural oil finishes on your cutting board.

First and foremost, let’s be clear. Cutting boards don’t specifically require a finish. What I mean is, a finish is unnecessary for the purely functional use of a cutting board. Through use and time, any finish will eventually fade. That’s because wear resulting from regular use and cleaning will take a toll on a cutting board, regardless of the specific finish. 

Well, why use a natural oil finish then? An appropriate oil finish can help prevent staining and warping of wood. And an oil finish will certainly highlight the natural beauty and grain of the wood. Cutting boards finished with natural oil will “pop” compared to their unfinished counterparts. Additionally, natural oil finishes will not chip over time, since they penetrate and nourish the wood. They will merely fade over time but can be easily maintained with light coats of oil.

How To Apply BeesBlock Oil

Since cutting boards are so small, a little bit of oil will go a long way. Our 4 oz. bottles of BeesBlock oil will easily finish several cutting boards. BeesBlock oil is a blend of high quality linseed and tung oils, plus beeswax. It’s specifically formulated for wooden household wares -- unlike our Original Finish, it does not have a citrus oil solvent. This means you can finish and refinish items in your house without the accompanying citrus aroma. 

Using a small brush or clean cotton rag, rub a light coat of oil into the clean surface of the wood. After 15 minutes, most or all of the oil should have absorbed into the wood. You can immediately follow up with a second coat, applied just the same way as the first. 

Give the oil time to penetrate and keep the board lifted off of your table or work surface to allow adequate airflow around the board. After another 15-30 minutes, return to the cutting board with a clean cotton rag and buff any excess oil. Set the board somewhere to dry. It will by fully dry to the touch within 24-48 hours. The oil will be fully cured within 2-3 weeks. Ideally, you will wait until the finish is fully polymerized before use. 

Finally, enjoy your beautifully finished cutting board. A handsomely finished cutting board makes a great gift, and a special touch could include a small 4 oz. bottle of BeesBlock oil. That way the the individual could apply more oil later as needed, or use it on any other wooden household wares.

Note: our BeesBlock oil, Original Finish, Concentrated Finish, and Liquid Wax finishes are all food-safe.