Workers Of Wood

Over the years I have constructed numerous cutting boards as gifts and this query is a first. "How long does my cutting board need to dry before I can re oil the surface? " Obviously the answer depends on the frequency of use, how was it cleaned etc., but I am at a loss as to the best answer.
All of these boards were originally treated with butcher block oil with a final coat a mixture of oil and beeswax. All were applied warm and allowed to soak in.
All suggestions will be appreciated.

Cheers
Jon

I look at the wood and guess whether it will accept new treatment. It will either soak in or sit on the surface. If you're asking how long after cleaning it to let the surface dry I would say maybe 24 hours. Maybe 48. Normal cleaning should only wet just into the surface.

What Charles said. My rule-of-thumb is that it needs a fresh coat of 'board butter' when water no longer beads on the surface.
In theory at least, if you do it regularly, water shouldn't penetrate enough to actually make the wood wet. ie a couple of hours in the drainboard before recoating.
I bought one of those el cheapo electric buffers for exactly this purpose. Buffing the board butter is a pleasure now!
https://www.princessauto.com/en/6-in-el ... 0008336877

Thank you gentlemen. I was thinking along those lines and will pass along your advice.

Cheers
Jon

Life where you are, Jon, is always Boring? :
Have you found a local beekeeper who will sell you bees wax? Way cheaper than any commercial products.
Mohawk Finishes sells Mineral oil in 4L containers*....way cheaper than buying from the drug-store!
* having said that, I just checked the online catalogue and couldn't find it listed. Very strange as I just recently bought a couple of containers of it.

DaninVan wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 7:41 pm Life where you are, Jon, is always Boring? :
Have you found a local beekeeper who will sell you bees wax? Way cheaper than any commercial products.
Mohawk Finishes sells Mineral oil in 4L containers*....way cheaper than buying from the drug-store!
* having said that, I just checked the online catalogue and couldn't find it listed. Very strange as I just recently bought a couple of containers of it.

Back nearly 50 years ago when I lived in Portland we thought of where Jon lives as out in the sticks, or at least on the edge. We used to head out his way to go swimming in the Sandy River.To the north of him was agriculture, green houses, I think I remember seeing fields of flowers, etc but that's probably much different now.

Cherryville Chuck wrote: ↑Thu Dec 01, 2022 12:38 pm

DaninVan wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 7:41 pm Life where you are, Jon, is always Boring? :
Have you found a local beekeeper who will sell you bees wax? Way cheaper than any commercial products.
Mohawk Finishes sells Mineral oil in 4L containers*....way cheaper than buying from the drug-store!
* having said that, I just checked the online catalogue and couldn't find it listed. Very strange as I just recently bought a couple of containers of it.

Back nearly 50 years ago when I lived in Portland we thought of where Jon lives as out in the sticks, or at least on the edge. We used to head out his way to go swimming in the Sandy River.To the north of him was agriculture, green houses, I think I remember seeing fields of flowers, etc but that's probably much different now.

Chuck, we have only been here 35 years but I can well imagine the area as you described it. Sadly it has indeed changed and some would say not for the better with the influx of houses. Fortunately it is still reasonably peaceful out here with a lot of land still being held by large nursery operations. The Sandy river is still popular for swimming and fishing although the latter is not as productive now. You should consider a visit one day.

I recall the massive changes in Port Moody BC from 74-76 when we lived there to our last visit in 2015.

ySee attached for the changes in the board in question.

Your comments about how things change brought back when we visited our old house in France after nearly 50 years and it was just exactly like when we left. Nothing had changed. The cobblestone alley we lived on still smelled just like it had 50 years ago and problem 100 before that. I would bet my key f I still had one would have fit the front door.

Bushwhacker

Jon wrote: ↑Sun Dec 04, 2022 1:54 pm 07F1EA99-40F8-4531-A852-094B4FC9037B.jpegySee attached for the changes in the board in question.

Jon; that is spectacular...a work of art, Sir!

Thanks Dan. The last one I built. Can't seem to get back into that grove.

Talk about ending on a high note!

It definitely benefited from new treatment. That made the grain stand out again.

I miss the Portland I remember. I don't know if I would like it now. It might be too different. From Portland I moved to Surrey for a few months. My Canadian friend and I rented a house on an old 10 acre chicken/berry farm not far from the Newton Shopping center (which wasn't much back then). There was a guy with a few cattle next to us on a 14 acre farm. Maybe 30 years ago I went by and it was a collection of strip malls. There was a gap between Surrey and Langley on the #10 with farms still in '74. Now there are no gaps until you get out past Fort Langley 15 miles east. Such is progress. Cherryville is gradually growing too. There are at probably 3 times as many houses now as when I moved here in permanently in early '76.