How to Make Wood Finish

The oil from walnuts provides a rich, dark finish to wood.

A walnut oil and beeswax blend is an environmentally friendly alternative to other wood finishes. Walnut oil is available at your local grocery store. It is a good choice because it dries completely and has a rich, dark tone. Beeswax is available at health food stores. It lends shine to the wood and protects it from scratching. This blend is nontoxic and safe enough to use on wooden serving pieces and utensils. It is simple to make and apply.

Things You'll Need

• Stove
• Double boiler
• 32 ounces walnut oil
• 1 pound beeswax
• Paintbrush or soft cloth
• Unfinished wooden item

Instructions

Blend The Oil

1. Fill the bottom of the double boiler with water to the level where the top pan sits. Place the top pan inside the bottom section.

2. Heat the water on the stove on a medium-high setting until it bubbles slightly. Turn the heat down to medium.

3. Add walnut oil to the top pan of the double boiler. Heat until it is lightly boiling.

4. Add the beeswax to the walnut oil.

5. Stir the oil and beeswax until the wax has melted and the ingredients are well combined.

Apply The Finish

1. Apply the finish to the wooden item using a cloth or a soft paintbrush. Let the coat dry.

2. Apply a second coat and let dry.

3. Allow the rest of the finish to cool and solidify. Seal it in an airtight container. Heat the resulting chunk of finish when you are ready to use it again. It will keep for several years.

4. Reapply the finish to your wooden item once a year to keep it looking shiny.

Tips & Warnings

• For larger batches increase the recipe by two parts oil to one part beeswax.

• The oil must achieve a light boil or it could go rancid and smell foul.

• Make the walnut oil and beeswax mixture thick enough to not drip easily from a spoon. If your mixture is too thin add another ounce of beeswax. If it is too thick add an ounce of oil. Adjust the proportions until the mixture achieves the correct consistency.

• Walnut oil and beeswax are both nontoxic but ingesting the oil is not recommended.

References

• The Canary Report: Finishing Wood with walnut oil and beeswax
• Wooden Stuff: Oils and Beeswax
• Green Living: Mixing Walnut Oil and Beeswax for Wood Preserving

Resources

• Fine Woodworking: Food-Safe Finishes