I'm planning to make a spatula as a gift and I'm unsure about the best finish to use. I typically go for a homemade Danish oil blend with walnut oil and polyurethane for my projects. However, since this is for someone else, I'm wondering if using polyurethane would be a good idea if they might not have it at home. Can they just maintain it with regular mineral oil, like what you'd use on a cutting board? Or is it better to start with mineral oil from the beginning?
3 Answers
Definitely skip the poly! It's not safe for food contact. Mineral oil is a great option for maintenance. It’s edible, but it doesn’t really stick to the wood, so you’ll need to keep applying it. Just remember that vegetable oils like olive oil can go rancid, which is a no-go for kitchen tools, so steer clear of that. Stick with mineral oil and you’ll be fine!
You're right to think about food-safe finishes! Generally, you want to avoid anything with a lot of chemicals. Polyurethane is not the best choice for utensils since it’s not food-safe and could leach unhealthy stuff. Instead, go for pure finishes like linseed or tung oil. They’re food-safe and soak into the wood well. Just remember, you’ll need to reapply them over time. If you want to skip finishing entirely, consider using a dense wood like teak or ipe, which can handle use without a finish.
What type of wood are you using? If it’s softwood like Douglas Fir, a soak in mineral oil could work. Just be careful of leaving it too long. Remember, olive oil goes rancid, so it’s not a good choice for a spatula. If you really want to soak it, stick to food-safe mineral oil instead.
I’m using Douglas Fir for the spatula. Thanks for the heads-up about the olive oil!