Thread: Mineral Oil On Wood Scales?

Should one apply anything to wood scales to help maintain them? Manufacturers of wood cutting boards suggest that mineral oil should be lightly applied periodically to preserve the wood. I use mineral oil to coat my blades and prevent rust. It occurred to me that perhaps the scales might benefit from an occasional light application. I would appreciate the benefit of your thoughts on this.

I don't see that it would hurt anything at all to wipe 'em down with it occasionally.

It wouldn't hurt, maybe darken some. Depending on the finish though, TI for instance pretty much bathes the wood in I don't know what but they are sealed forever so it probably wouldn't matter much with those types.

I've dabbled in woodworking for many years and it's usually Flax oil, AKA Linseed oil recommended for boards as it hardens and seals the surface. Be careful not to get it on a Formica counter because if it hardens, it doesn't come off.

I make custom cutting brds and butcher blocks,Mineral oil is the recomended treatment because it is 100% non toxic.
Many of the brds I make are walnut,will nut hurt your scales in the least,just do not over do it.

It really depends on what the wood Scales were sealed with in the first place, if the wood was even sealed in the first place...

If that info was not available, I would use a high quality wax such as Renaissance Wax

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I would use a high quality wax such as Renaissance Wax

Been there and done that. Great stuff ! Robert Williams also recommends it for blades as well as wooden scales. I know linseed oil , boiled IIRC, was highly thought of for rifle stocks 40 years ago. Newer stuff may have replaced it by now.

I use linseed oil on everything wooden: antique furniture, gunstocks, my camper interior. Love the smell. The boiled stuff polymerizes a little faster than the raw stuff, but sometimes also has additives that knock it off the food-grade perch. I don't know of any successful synthetic replacement. The low-scent mineral spirits might be new since 40 years ago, though.

I put RenWax on all my blades because it makes them rinse clean easier. I put it on some wooden scales I had impregnated with candle wax and it didn't shine them up at all.

Musical instruments of ebony are oiled periodically. It's a very thin, penetrating oil, I'm not sure what it is. But since nobody tries to suck food through their clarinet, it's not necessarily nontoxic.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I make custom cutting brds and butcher blocks,Mineral oil is the recomended treatment because it is 100% non toxic.
Many of the brds I make are walnut,will nut hurt your scales in the least,just do not over do it.

Flax oil is not only non toxic but edible and a great source of vegetarian Omega 3s plus it does have a sealing property to it. BTW, mineral oil is petroleum based and not what I would put on my food. You may want to consider switching if you put food on those really nice blocks.

Ultimately, considering the item here, I think Glen has the best advice.

Originally Posted by drmatt357

Flax oil is not only non toxic but edible and a great source of vegetarian Omega 3s plus it does have a sealing property to it. BTW, mineral oil is petroleum based and not what I would put on my food. You may want to consider switching if you put food on those really nice blocks.

Ultimately, considering the item here, I think Glen has the best advice.

Sorry but your wrong,If you seal a large cutting Board,it will crack,mineral oil is sold at all Pharmacys as a laxitive,you swallow it,The butcher block oil you can buy at any large hardware store is food grade mineral oil,read the label.