Replies

1. 
   prairiescl | Jun 05, 2002 03:14am | #1

   linseed oil and the oil from Flax seeds are one in the same. That's why they call it linseed oil (huh?). Fresh flax seed is edible, even good for you. I put flax seed on my oatmeal. Once cured, it is no longer the same beast. It has oxidized and, to some degree, polymerized. I don't know how food safe the result is. It is fine to have in your kitchen, but since cutting boards are usually treated with mineral oil (which does not oxidize or go rancid) and not linseed oil, I would guess that cured linseed oil is not edible.

2. 
   ETG | Jun 05, 2002 04:28am | #2

   There are products available that do meet health standards for kitchen use.  You can find them in catalogs like Woodcraft Supply.  I use Tried & True finishes which are totally safe and contain no driers - they are essentially pure linseed oil with some beeswax added (in the original finish).   Some folks have posted on this board that they have trouble with Tried & True drying but the more I use the finish and the more I read these complaints, I become more convinced that the folks don't follow the directions and apply the product as directed.  Tried & True must be applied in very thin coats and then must be rubbed down after about an hour - the rubbing part should take the finish to almost a dry state.  I highly recommend the product.

3. 
   forestgirl | Jun 05, 2002 04:59am | #3

   I don't think the driers are going to leap out and contaminate your food, however, if -- after reading the other advice you'll get here -- you still find yourself dead set against linseed oil, and you want to use a safe oil, then fetch some mineral oil from the grocery store. 

   EdGregg's ideas are worthy of note, and the details on application he provided should come in handy.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

4. 
   HowardAcheson | Jun 05, 2002 06:46pm | #4

   Flax or linseed oil for a finish that will be used in a kitchen may be a poor choice. Any oil finish has little or no protective qualities, will not inhibit moisture or water and will not be easily cleaned of the the gunk that gets on things in the kitchen.

   And, another point, all interior finishes produced since the mid 1970's are required to be non-toxic when cured. They may not taste good, but they certainly won't hurt you.

   Choose a finish that gives you the durability you want.

1. 
   bobhallsr | Jun 06, 2002 07:51am | #5

   Howie, I'm not quite clear on this subject, but I thought that the regulation invoked in the 70s concerned the removal of lead from finishes. Lead could have been present from lead compounds present to catalize the polymerization of the drying oils or from the pigment (lead chromate). I believe that the dryers that I encounter in the 80s contained metals compounds such as cobalt and vanadium salts. (I'm on thin ice here, I've forgotten much.)

   On the other hand, water based finishes are dependant upon intirely different chemistry for drying and should have no metals of any kind. Remember too. that food does not have prolonged or intimate contact woth cupboard doors like it has on cutting boards.

   BJ

   Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland

   Edited 6/6/2002 12:53:19 AM ET by Bee Jay

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Jun 07, 2002 09:04pm | #6

   As I understand and recall, the regulation was initiated to deal with lead but was written in a way that finishes must be non-toxic when fully cured.

   As to the metal driers other than lead, not all metal driers are deemed harmful by the FDA. The driers used in finishes now include cobalt, manganese, zinc, and zirconium and are approved by the FDA for use in oil, varnish and paint. As long as the finish is formulated to cure properly, they are known not to cause any health problems. Finishes formulated with these dries qualify as being non-toxic when cured.

   Edited 6/7/2002 2:05:27 PM ET by Howie

2. 
   cuttoff | Jun 08, 2002 07:11am | #7

   Huh ? Then how about Varnish ? Is it any good for a kitchen? Check out "Tried and True Varnish Oil.... This is an excellent finish but would probably require regular renewal about every 10 years or so... O.K. I started it .... I'll take the heat...Expressions Fine Wood Working and Cabinetry..A division of Schefer Engineering Inc., Santa Rosa, Ca.