Replies

1. 
   Cayman | Jun 04, 2022 05:12pm | #1

   There was an extremely experienced syndicated columnist named Michael Smith (as I recall) who retired a decade or so ago. Once in the spring and once in the fall he would post the same newspaper column about working with cedar. His point was that cedar, and a very few other woods, has a natural ability to expel water from its cells. That makes cedar an ideal wood for outdoor furniture and fixtures.

   His message was ALWAYS - never, never, never put a finish on cedar. Of any kind! The second you put an oil or a stain or any other finish on cedar you dramatically reduce its lifespan. It will rot.

   Secondly, ‘Danish Oil’ is not food safe. Tung Oil and Boiled (it’s not) Linseed oil are food safe. Other oils like sunflower and coconut oil are technically food safe but will go rancid over time. They do not cure like TO and BLO.

   Unless you truly dislike the look of aged cedar don’t touch it.

2. 
   jharveyb | Jun 04, 2022 06:08pm | #2

   I am puzzled by the previous comments. All woods expel water from their cells; it's called drying. Eastern red cedar is durable in the weather because of the extractives the tree deposits in the heartwood. The sapwood has no durability; rot and termites will attack the sapwood. Sealing a napkin ring with an oil finish will not make it rot. It will stay dry in the house. Of course, it would not be good to put it repeatedly in the dishwasher.
   It is true that woods used outside don't do well with heavy surface finishes, as any cracks or defects in the finish let water penetrate the wood in the area; once the water spreads out, it can't escape thru the defect and stays in the wood, promoting rot to the extent that the wood is rot-susceptible. However, exterior penetrating finishes are designed to repel water from outside the wood, and allow any water in the wood to escape as water vapor. By significantly reducing water intake, they reduce surface damage from weathering.
   As regards food safety, best is to check with the finish manufacturer's tech department. My own opinion is that any reasonable finish on a napkin ring will not provide significant toxic threat unless folks chew on numerous napkins, rather than laundering them. The two major toxic ingredients in finishes are the solvents, and the heavy metal dryers used in some linseed oil and other oil finishes. Again, check with the manufacturer.

3. 
   Cayman | Jun 04, 2022 06:59pm | #3

   I did check with the manufacturers. That's why I wrote that. That, and 10 years of research.

4. 
   gulfstar | Jun 04, 2022 08:56pm | #4

   First, danish oil is a term that is used to sell various blends of finishes, some 100% linseed oil, some a mix of oil, mineral spirit and spar varnish. Second, does a napkin holder needs to be food safe? If the danish oil is the mix of tree ingredients, it will cure in a hard surface and not leave oil residue on the napkins.

1. 
   randomwoodguy | Jun 04, 2022 09:18pm | #5

   Ye not sure if I typed my question out clearly or not but I meant if I used eastern cedar wood for a second napkin holder would a danish oil dry and stop any sap that may still be inside the wood seeping out later onto any napkins it may hold because apparently this eastern cedar wood can cause some allergy’s . Iv checked the label on the danish oil and it says it’s suitable for even kitchen utensils but I was mostly wondering if when the danish oil cures and hardens if it’ll form a barrier to stop any sap if there is any remaining in the wood contaminating the napkins . ? Thanks all for the replies

5. 
   Cayman | Jun 04, 2022 09:34pm | #6

   I went down this rabbit hole some years ago as relates to a nephew who is seriously allergic to tree nuts and a walnut oil cutting board.

   There are a lot of good articles online about food safe oils. It’s important to note the chemistry. Oils do not ‘cure’ the same. Some have handles to accept oxygen molecules, some not so much. Think of the motor oil in your car. You could leave that in a bucket for 10 years and it would never solidify. Only a very few oils truly cure. Safely.