How to Make the Best Finish for Cutting Boards

[@dac416]

Saw your video and liked the simple recipe. My wife would not let me use her crockpot either. Went to Goodwill and they had 1 crockpot for $5. Never guess what it looked like. It was orange with sea creatures around the bottom.... yes, it is exactly yours. Been using the wax for about 2 months now and love it. Thanks!

[@dj3114]

You may want to know that when I made it, a friend took two tins and gave me some interesting info. Not only are we both woodworkers, we both like to shoot now and then. He discovered that this works fantastic for rifles / shotguns - even the wood. He buffs it off and found that it removes a very small amount of rust that you couldn't see. Additionally, we use it to wax our hand tools as opposed to the paste wax we used to use. Much easier to put on and take off. Lastly, we are both hand tool woodworkers and sharpen our chisels and plane blades by hand. He discovered that it works wonders on diamond stones we use for that as opposed to the Windex we used before. Seems to have far more purposes that you probably thought. Well done !!

[@BigBilly1958]

Leather gloves and leather work boots take to this as well

[@LoganCheatham]

Did you just apply it to the wood of the gun? Or the metal? And have you seen any issues since or pros? And what’s a Diamond stone?

[@dj3114]

@@LoganCheatham Yes, I coat the wood and metal alike. Don't leave it on long, then just buff it off. Bluing is shinny as well as the wood. Obviously makes it more water resistant due to the oil. Just returned from a wild hog hunt and there was a bit of rain. Gun shed it very well. I've not seen any downside yet. Diamond stones of different grit are what I use to sharpen woodworking tools. Used to use Windex which is good too, but this is better and slicker.

[@LisaHarrison]

Thanks for the tutorial. It cost me about $4.00 per 6 ounce tin. This stuff is great. I have given to friends and family. Don't ask me why I held onto my rival crockpot from 1990 but I did...I guess it was all leading up to this moment. LOL.

[@jhinchey5120]

I will be making this. I am a soap maker so I have the tins and beeswax on hand. I just got butcher block countertops so no need to buy conditioner when I can make my own. Love your channel!

[@jeffdamon5419]

So... You said 4 to 1 ratio. I started with one cup of wax beads and 4 cups of mineral oil. I did order the 4 OZ tins you referenced. The one cup of wax and four cups of oil gave me a perfect ten 4 OZ tins of paste wax. This is good stuff!!! I got my crock pot at Value Village for 8 bux, plus $1.98 for a sacrificial set of measuring cups at the local store. Very nice. Thanks for the video!!!! I had just finished a new cutting board so I had a place to try out the wax. Nice! Your advice of putting down some plywood to catch the dribs and drabs while I worked on was spot on.

[@MWAWoodworks]

Awesome!

[@WormyLeWorm]

Best video of the simplest process to do this with no BS I've found. Other videos had so much fluff and other methods were needlessly complicated as I was looking for better ways to do it than the obvious. Thanks.

[@88rushrocks]

I make furniture however I’m making Christmas gifts cutting boards this year for family and friends and since I’ve never had to worry about food safety before this simple treating solution is 100% grateful thanks

[@MWAWoodworks]

👍

[@ronlabajo3780]

Im on board. I love to learn woodworking since i was a kid. I grew up with my grandfather with woodworking skills. He was one of those carpenters worked with the american soldiers help rebuilt philippines after WW2. He had amount of antique specialty tools for finishing touches, but lost track of them after he pass away. Fast forward to this present time with new tech tools here in america made me more excited to learn that grandfather had with one problem, who is going to teach me? Thanks to youtube, i found ur channel. This is the right time for me to start buying important tools & with the help of your videos i can feed my almost forgotten desire in woodworking. Thank You very much, u may have a blessed day & more power to ur channel.

[@louislandi938]

I will start looking for a crock pot at yard sales, thrift shops and flea markets. This was a valuable lesson. Thank you!

[@cbruced24]

Thanks for this Matt. This seems to be the best free gift I give to all my customers of culinary boards

[@Not_TVs_Frank]

This will be a great resource for finishing projects, but also a nice add-on for gifts like cutting boards. Many people won’t know or remember what to use to recondition a cutting board, but if you give them a tin of the paste, that ensures they have what they need.

[@jayshultz5303]

as soon as i saw you do this i went to amazon and bought all that i needed to do this . it just arrived and tomorrow i will get busy and make some

[@adog8me]

Thank you for taking the time to teach people!

[@trailgeartradingpost]

Thank you for this! I made two batches tonight, and even tried some on one of our cutting boards at home. Great finish!!!! One helpful hint for anyone who wants to try this...don’t do it with anything smaller than a 4qt crock pot. I used a 3qt and it was literally filled all the way to the rim! Should have bought the larger one.

[@MWAWoodworks]

Awesome! Glad you liked it 👍

[@mackenziemill]

Great tip, thanks

[@matteliano454]

Or scale down the recipe. It's a 4:1 ratio.

[@miamited69]

Use a broken down cardboard box to work on. Any spilt wax areas can be used to help start fireplace or firepit.

[@felicadawn62]

I have a cool one like that (wedding present in 1979---haha). It is harvest gold, though, even cooler!! haha. I knew I saved that thing for something after buying a newer version. Thanks for sharing your mixture so I can make my own!

[@MWAWoodworks]

It's the neatest thing in my shop. So glad I kept it 👍

[@kevinmonzel]

When I made my first batch I used a double boiler setup on the stove, it worked well. The kettle with the wax and oil was surprisingly easy to clean; wipe it with a paper towel while it's hot, hit it with Dawn and you're good.

[@mackenziemill]

Great tip

[@R000831]

How long till the oil feel goes away. I’ve wiped it every couple days but still feels like grease a little bit

[@jwar2163]

I just found that same color on the metal and the same color on the tub for the crook pot at a Disable Veterans Thrift Store. Funny thing is I watched this video back in 2019 and made a note to myself to buy a used crook pot or a cheap new one and totally forgot about it until a month ago when I saw it in the DAV Store. Then It took me for ever to find this video again. My wife ask me why I was buying such an old crook for and I told her it was a surprise. She will soon have an awesome made in my shop cutting board as a bread board to match it.

[@mackenziemill]

she will love it

[@SHOEMAN342]

After applying a liberal coat of wax, i pass a heat gun over the surface to melt the wax on the wood. It seems to melt the wax which flows deep into the pores and crevices of the wood. A hair dryer works as well.

[@beepIL]

What a great idea! i will have to try this next time

[@mariagmartinho]

Great tip! Thanks a lot! 👍❤️

[@UrraSergio]

I'll give a try. Thank you.

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

Excellent idea.

[@bobstensland5294]

I have always cut some fresh rosemary into the hot mix -good antibacterial and makes my wooden rolling pins smell like they started baking bread before you arrived

[@MWAWoodworks]

Oh that sounds like a great idea 💡

[@greedypaul6343]

Thanks for being direct. I hate those videos that give 45 minutes of BS to show 5 minutes of how to.

[@royschuchmann3886]

Simple, clear, to the point. Thank you, I learn from you. I loved the way you animated the "subscribe" button. It's the least important thing in the whole video but it's done in a funny way. Unfortunately I'm already subscribed 😊

[@MWAWoodworks]

Lol well I'm glad you like my editing skill as much as my woodworking skill. I'll take it! Thanks so much 🙏

[@treetopcrafters3147]

Awesome, short sweet and helpful! I was dreading using different boiling pots of water and mason jars. Saved us!

[@خلق-الله-بالحق]

Simple, clear and beautiful.

[@Cameron2874]

Love your videos. Thanks for sharing. Your boards definitely put mine to shame. Small tip for rest of world that watches you. Just put up on screen in alternative measurements IE: grams/ litre/ millilitres so we can follow easier. Thanks again and keep up the great work

[@christajennings3828]

1 part beeswax to 4 parts mineral oil. Use whatever measures you like.

[@Guitarsdetectors]

I made a batch of 24 after watching your video! Thanks for the video.

[@robertelias3431]

Very good explanation. I can tell U enjoy your shop.

[@GodFamilyCountryOfficial]

My grandfather had the same recipe many years ago and I had forgotten the ratio. My dad couldn't remember it either so he loved using linseed oil for some crazy reason, which didn't stand up as well over time. Thanks!

[@davidgreene2445]

Hey, just made my first batch of mineral oil/beeswax finish and I LOVE IT. I made some charcuterie boards out of cherry and wormy chestnut and some tea light holders out of the chestnut. The finish is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much for your informative and also fun video.

[@konardkonrado7755]

can you share how is the cost for making it is it cheaper than for example dunish oil ( its like 1 liter per 25 dolars ) or something like that?

[@lucretiawrolstad3997]

As long as you keep it at the 4:1 ratio you can downsize your batch, which decreases your cost

[@gareyw870]

watched this clip and making my first batch today. thanks

[@donleach306]

Thanks for the info, I am making cutting boards for a street bazaar and I needed a ratio of mineral oil to bees wax!

[@knothead6436]

Just made a batch with my Goodwill crock pot. Worked great.

[@InspireWoodcraft]

Haha! We had that same Crockpot in our kitchen when I was growing up. Well I mean, not THAT exact one, but you get it.

[@MWAWoodworks]

They never die! They just get repurposed 🤣🤣🤣

[@paulchapman7838]

Yeah, that old orange Crockpot brought back some good memories and made my mouth water thinking about the things my mother used to cook in it. That Crockpot never died, but mom dropped the inner pot one day and it broke into pieces. If that outer pot with the cooking element is still around I bet it's still working.

I'm going to do this mineral oil/beeswax finish! Simple and great explanation! Happy New Year 2022 from Hollywood California

[@davestevens5477]

thanks for the proper ratio of oil to wax. i have been wanting to make some. the store stuff is expensive

[@MWAWoodworks]

Ya this is way too easy to make!

[@AndyUK-Corrival]

Love it, simple and perfect. Wondering if it would be nice to add some orange or lemon oil to the mix to really give a nice smell. Andy UK

[@deliaguzman1138]

This is definitely the easiest method I’ve seen! Can’t wait to look for a reindeer measuring cup at my Nana’s or someplace….

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

filling the cans reminds me of a job I had decades ago, dispensing a cleaning compound into similar tins.

[@MWAWoodworks]

It's a tedious job but you get to smell that wonderful beeswax so it's worth it

[@raulsuazo5015]

Loved that cutting board!!!

[@joelwatts9042]

Thanks. I just finished my first endgrain cutting board and was waiting for this video. Cant wait to try it.

[@MWAWoodworks]

Word! Hope it helps you 👍

[@schoon8654]

I'll be making a batch this afternoon - great video, and like the channel as well.

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

Seems pretty straight forward and easy. And a great add on sales item. Curious how much you sell yours for?

[@markv6913]

Great video, thank you. Would you recommend this for bowls? Thanks again.

[@djeeves1]

Awesome Video and great crock pot. I grew up eating out of that exact same crock pot.

[@tq2655]

Made this and it works great. Thanks

[@Harrell423]

This is awesome, a great food safe wood finish. I wonder how much you could sell these for?

[@Krunch2020]

The mineral oil soaks into the wood and the wax is left on the surface. It only takes a few minutes to soak in before buffing. I also use it to protect an antique table that is used infrequently. I slathered it on to prevent drying.

[@idleford]

I have been using the same 4:1 ratio but I like the white bees wax over the yellow, it keeps the whiter woods from yellowing. I soak my boards in mineral oil before coating them. They seem to need less coatings as often when soaked.

[@MrKikoboy]

You can also substitute paraffin for the beeswax for a very clear finish

[@mackenziemill]

thanks great tips

[@albundy6284]

Paraffin or white wax is a petroleum product-not food safe.

[@iwantfree9257]

@@albundy6284 Mineral oil is a petroleum product as well.

[@kevinmonzel]

I got this same recipe from a guy who wrote a spoon carving book. I like the tins. Put mine in a tall mason jar, very hard to get out.

[@LaLeeRu]

I am going to make this tomorrow! Thank you!!!

[@bradiannantuono8225]

Thanks for the recipe! Hope you and yours have a marry Christmas

[@MWAWoodworks]

Thank you Brad! You as well!

[@pmchamlee]

What a great idea, Pal! I've been buying John Boos mix for decades - turns out, the ingredients of theirs are exactly those that you use. Much obliged! 🤠

[@hardnox6655]

Nicely explained. I use a #10 can (with a bent lip as a pour spout on the edge) in the crockpot with water as a double boiler. I clip on a small vise-grip plier, wipe off the can and pour. It's so much easier to dispense the wax/oil mix into containers. Just a suggestion. Less mess too than a ladle. :)

[@moonlightmeadows906]

Just made this sealant last weekend, and could not have been happier with how it turned out. Thank you so much for sharing. Ps. I had a customer grilling me about joints on cuttings boards and insisting that they need to have discs or dowels. I told her that the wood glue would hold 1000-2000 psi of pressure. Any opinion you could offer on that?

[@MWAWoodworks]

I've never used anything other than glue. No need.

[@edgaraldi2691]

Hi, thanks for this amazing video I learned a lot, one question. This recipe let's call it like this, is bees wax, for people that are allergic to it is still ok to use it?, thanks.

[@gillyb333]

Thank you so much simple and helpful well explained 😊 Australia 🇦🇺 😀

[@jonathancorda1365]

Unbelievable work.

[@Marley6942]

Do you stir the mixture in the crockpot during the melting process???

[@mickthewheelchairwoodworke8763]

Bloody awesome another added feature to sell 👍🏻👍🏻

[@helalsfamily]

Very helpful and right to the point .. thanks bro.

[@joshuaquick5511]

Would you recommend using this process for finishing furniture?

[@MWAWoodworks]

No

[@jaykepley5238]

Nice video. Shop looks great. Happy holidays!

[@MWAWoodworks]

Thank you Jay! Happy holidays to you too 🎄

[@jalbertob77]

@MWAWoodworks do you know if using a Rice Maker would work too? Reading different opinions online. Apparently rice makers heat up faster than a Crock-Pot and "could" break down the wax instead of only melting it... Appreciate your perspective. Thx!

[@jonathanhitchman3702]

Would you recommend using this on teak wood for spearguns as a finish? Will salt water make any difference if we used this?

[@MWAWoodworks]

I really don't know 🤷

[@Jo-xg6rk]

Nice job, I used coconut oil on mine.. Il maybe try this nx time

[@MWAWoodworks]

Coconut oil is a very good option. However in time it will go rancid even though it takes longer than most plant based oils do 👍

[@JessyRenae]

@@MWAWoodworks is there a way to remove the coconut oil? Or to somehow remedy the situation?

[@TheOutdoorEthos]

@@JessyRenae You can look for fractionated coconut oil, it's stable and won't go rancid. It's also about 3x more expensive than mineral oil.

[@johnclavis]

@@TheOutdoorEthos I just made some wood butter using fractionated coconut oil and beeswax in a 3-to-1 ratio, and so far it's working great on my wooden utensils, cutting boards and my dry hands!

[@bobcrane9945]

Do you think that this would work for a wooden pizza peel? Is it as slick as pure mineral oil that I have been using?

[@olic3607]

Hey guys! Do you ever need to stir the finish when its in the slow cooker?

[@grimall00]

awesomee, can you do it on a normal pot?

[@JesseWheeler-j9e]

Is it possible or even a good idea to use Tung oil first and then use this after the Tung oil cures?

[@Ro2006Ro]

How would you recommend cleaning a board that’s been treated this way? And how often would it need to be re conditioned?

[@MWAWoodworks]

Depends completely on the amount of use

[@Ro2006Ro]

@@MWAWoodworks well, let's say just like the one you showed on the video. Same recipe, new board, applying a liberal amount and left over night. Say I use it once a month for meat and perhaps a few more times a month just for veggies. Should I clean with just warm water? cold water? with/out dish soap? With a sponge or a metal scrubber thingy or just by hand? Sorry if I'm annoying, but I've never had a fancy board around and when I make one I'd like t care for it.

[@jonmhayden]

This was very helpful. I want to make a cutting board. Is just the 1 coat sufficient? I've seen so many videos and it seems like people do coat after coat of mineral oil baths. I like the idea of a single coat for sure. Thanks

[@miges2]

Great video. Ordered my supplies and looking forward to making my first batch. Do you happen to know if soy wax can be used as a substitute for beeswax? Thanks

[@bradschmidt1780]

Thanks for the video. This is great information.

[@sjscreations2608]

You are definitely full out it, great ideas that is lol. Keep up the great vid’s pls! Cheers, Sean

[@seanbickford1]

Just stumbled across this video. Is that food grade mineral oil or just regular mineral oil you'd find in a pharmacy?

[@davidboston4574]

Just started following you! Great video!!! Watched several more and just amazing!! Thank you!

[@mackenziemill]

what a great video, I sell wood and charcuterie boards at the farmers market. What do I use to finish the boards is the number one question. This will be a great seller in the near future!

[@HenrySollySangma]

Helpful, entertaining and practical.

[@4KConelove]

How do you make a much much smaller amt? I have 12 fluid oz of Howard cutting board oil and a 2 oz bar of Lundsmark’ solid beeswax . I finally found a used small solidly made Caphalon saucepan to melt it all in. Should I use 8 oz of the mineral oil to the 2 oz beeswax bar?

[@spicyhot1695]

Excellent video. Just what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing

[@djs240]

Loved the board and wax finish. Thanks

[@brendonnevin3005]

Would you reccomended this for a wooden kitchen island? (3.2m x 0.9m daily use)

[@mondoman1890]

Very helpful. Thanks and keep them coming

[@jimconleyjr2]

great video. can't wait to try the recipe.

[@MWAWoodworks]

😊

[@MrShelzy]

great video! my next project!

[@MWAWoodworks]

Awesome Jeff! Have fun and enjoy!

[@knottybirdcreations6713]

Great video and thank you. I was wondering can you use this wax on a planer bed or table-saw?

[@boardbeampdx9727]

I prefer a thicker wax like walrus oil ‘s recipe… I also use oil 24 hours before the wax Do you have a recommended ratio for that?

[@alandills3393]

Thanks for this video. Going to try this tomorrow. Fun coincidence, my mom said she still had the crockpot her mom used. Turns out it’s the green version of the one you use.

[@rameshpersaud7131]

Great job on 1-wax 2-wood applications keep up the good job 👍

[@thesaintmustwalkalone708]

Could I use coconut oil instead? Seems like thei microbial benefits would be better than mineral oil?

[@MWAWoodworks]

The problem with plant oils is going rancid on the board but if you keep up with maintenance it can be a good choice

[@veloumurugesan5271]

Excellent Video, thank you

[@animewarrior16]

I'm trying to think of other projects that would work well with this finish, maybe Lazy Suzanne's, or maybe a coffee table?

[@bobt2522]

When I make a batch of the finish, there is always a little left in the pot. I wipe that on the wooden spoons and spatulas in the kitchen. They need a little love too.

[@tomcullen9484]

So the crockpot you used is that a 2 or 3 quart. Found the old style like your but it’s a 2 qt

[@reynaldcruz1128]

Can I use this for steel knife maintenance?

[@MWAWoodworks]

Don't know

[@marty01957]

My second time watching this. I made a batch and It worked great on our cutting boards! Had to watch again as I'm giving these tins as Christmas gifts this year! Thanks again, Matt!

[@strangecreekcreations7255]

Does it melt during the summer in the tins if it's not in an a/c place?

[@QNSwebmaster]

Hello where did you get those tins?

[@The4GunGuy]

Great video...how do you clean the cutting board after this treatment...dishwasher safe or just soap and water?

[@MWAWoodworks]

Warm soapy water on a towel. Never put wooden items in a dishwasher.

[@The4GunGuy]

@@MWAWoodworks Thanks...thought so but wanted to be sure.

[@TeboxYT]

what are pros and cons of using this finish versus linseed oil? wich one will last the longest?

[@larrywalls5102]

Great job!

[@rrpp1425]

Awesome information. Thank you for sharing from new subscriber.

[@MWAWoodworks]

👍

[@nicl3296]

Trying to purchase your mixture. Will more be available soon?

[@MWAWoodworks]

Hi! No longer for sale. Sorry!