How to Finish Wood With Walnut Oil
Walnut oil magnifies the beauty of wood furniture and flooring, while adding a protective finish. Unlike many finishes, walnut oil is all natural, which means it does not possess any toxic chemicals, although there is still a danger of nut allergies if food comes into contact with a walnut finish. Walnut oil finishes "in" the wood, rather than "on" the wood, like varnish, which means walnut oil does not form a layer on the wood. This prevents the finish from being chipped off and allows straight re-application without removal of the previous treatment.
Step 1
Purchase a 100 percent walnut oil product if applying to a food preparation area. Some impure solutions may introduce potentially toxic chemicals, but pure walnut oil is non-toxic.
Step 2
Apply liberal amounts of walnut oil over the area to be finished. Use a rag for small areas or a roller for large areas.
Step 3
Allow the walnut oil to absorb into the wood for approximately 30 minutes.
Step 4
Wipe off any remaining walnut oil, using a clean rag along the direction of the grain.
Step 5
Repeat the procedure for a second coat, if desired. Walnut oil is non-curing, so one or two coats will be sufficient.
References
Tips
- You can also use a mixture of walnut oil and beeswax for a more protective, all-natural finish.
Warnings
- Walnut oil is derived from nuts, which means there is a danger of allergic reactions if used on food preparation surfaces. If you are allergic to nuts, use a mineral oil for any area that comes into contact with food.
Writer Bio
C. Taylor embarked on a professional writing career in 2009 and frequently writes about technology, science, business, finance, martial arts and the great outdoors. He writes for both online and offline publications, including the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Samsung, Radio Shack, Motley Fool, Chron, Synonym and more. He received a Master of Science degree in wildlife biology from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences at College of Charleston. He also holds minors in statistics, physics and visual arts.
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