coconut oil

[Bob Strand]

I got a call from a novice turner this morning in that she had done a bowl and was thinking about using coconut oil as a finish. Wanted a nice smell. I haven't heard of using it. I'm wondering if it would dry enough to be useable. Any thoughts?

 

[hockenbery]

I got a call from a novice turner this morning in that she had done a bowl and was thinking about using coconut oil as a finish. Wanted a nice smell. I haven't heard of using it. I'm wondering if it would dry enough to be useable. Any thoughts?

Many natural oils will go rancid - coconut oil is one I have not heard of as a finish - a Google search found this on cutting board.com.

"Coconut oils have recently become highly popular for a variety of purposes, especially in beauty, because it is rich is saturated fats that are good for skin health. Unfortunately, all fats exposed to air eventually go rancid and coconut oil is not immune (even though some bloggers claim otherwise). However, a select group of coconut oils are refined using a refractionation process, which is a fancy way of staying that the oils have been steam distilled. During this distillation process, coconut oil is separated so that the long-chain triglycerides (LCT) are removed and only the medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are left. This leaves an almost pure oil that will NOT go rancid, is shelf stable and is superior to most other oils for treating not just cutting boards, but your kitchen utensils, salad bowls, countertops... you get the idea.

 

[Bob Strand]

Thanks hockenberry. I'll pass that on.

 

[Zach LaPerriere]

There's always the nut issue, but I'm a big fan of walnut oil. Mike Mahoney and Doctor's Woodshop sell the best that has had the proteins removed and dried faster, though regular walnut oil will dry, harden, and shouldn't go rancid.