Best Finish for Olive Wood – Our Recommendations

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As with most wood products, olive wood items should be treated with a thin coat to keep them healthy. The finish helps to protect the wood from drying out and cracking and will also help to keep the items looking their best.

Notably, unlike other wood products, olive wood is so unique, and it can be challenging to find the right finish. For instance, olive wood makes small wooden items such as utensils. While you can use commercial finishes on other wood surfaces, you need food-grade finishes for olive wood products.

In this post, we will discuss a few of the best wood oils you can use.

4 Best Olive Wood Oil Finishes

When considering the best finish to apply on olive wood, food-grade oils are the best choice, especially for wooden utensils. But not all oils are suitable for wood finish. Also, different oils have different characteristics you need to be aware of before choosing one over the other.

For instance, some oils take weeks to dry. Also, some oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil, are not suitable for finishing as the wood products develop unpleasant smells after some time.

Therefore, although there is a wide variety of oil finishes, you cannot use them on your olive wood furniture. Since most wood polishes are toxic and unsuitable for utensils, we recommend the following food-grade oils to make the wood products last longer.

1) Tung oil

Tung oil is a drying oil suitable for use as an olive wood finish. The oil is extracted by pressing tung tree seeds. The extracted tung oil is 100% natural. It’s clear and hardens to form a transparent coating that protects the wood. Notably, some tung oil brands contain additives to enhance the oil’s positive characteristics. For instance, to shorten the oil’s drying time, some manufacturers add drying agents.

When applying the finish, you need to add thinner to increase the viscosity and make it easier to use. The tung oil, when thinned, it’s easy to apply on wood surfaces. Also, for best results, you should apply at least four coats.

Compared to other natural oils, tung oil is more resistant to water. The wood-finished used tung oil does not absorb moisture; hence it can last longer without cracking. Notably, the wood surface finished using tung oil is easy to repair in case of scratches.

2) Boiled linseed oil

Boiled linseed oil is 100% natural with a slightly yellow tint. When you apply it on an olive wood surface, expect a slight change in the wood color. Therefore, if you prefer the natural wood color, you may have to choose another oil finish.

The oil is extracted from flaxseed oil. The oil is also known as flaxseed oil or flax oil. Linseed oil is non-toxic and safe, even for olive wood kitchenware. Usually, the oil finish will not affect the taste of food.

Importantly, you should apply linseed oil to finish a bare olive wood or a previously oil-finished wood surface. Applying linseed oil on painted surfaces will prevent the oil from penetrating the wood. Therefore, if your wood has been varnished or waxed, you need to sand and clean the surface before application.

The linseed oil finish is susceptible to scratches and mildew and only suitable for use on indoor wooden objects. If you want to apply it to outdoor olive wood products, you should treat the wood against mildew.

3) Danish oil

You can use Danish oil on your olive wood objects for a hard and lovely satin finish. Danish oil is a product you can use to finish all types of olive wood objects regardless of their use. The oil is a drying oil finish that hardens when it cures. The oil is safe, dries fast after applying, and is easy to apply.

The oil is a blend of tung oil and linseed oil. Importantly, there is no specific formulation for manufacturing Danish oil. The Danish oil composition varies widely as well as its characteristics depending on the manufacturer’s formulations.

When applied on olive wood or other types of wood, the oil provides a beautiful hard and waterproof satin finish. It’s a suitable wood finish if you want a smooth, durable, and water-resistant surface finish.

Also, it resists chemical reactions, and the wood won’t swell or warp even when exposed to weather elements.

4) Teak Oil

Although Teak is a tree, teak oil is unrelated to the tree. It’s not extracted from a teak tree. However, the oil’s name is based on its purpose. The oil is suitable for teak wood, although it can be used on other types of wood.

The oil combines tung oil, flaxseed oil, varnish, and mineral spirits. The mineral spirit ingredient acts as a thinner for easy oil application. Notably, the teak oil characteristics vary widely based on different manufacturers’ blending formulations.

When applied on wood, teak oil provides a slight sheen. The oil is safe to use on olive wood. It is an excellent choice for woodworkers who need a natural finish for their olive wood.

Steps of Applying Oil Finishes on the Olive Wood

The following are crucial steps to follow when applying oil finish olive wood:

  1. Before applying the oil finish over the oil wood surface, ensure the object is clean. Use warm water to clean olive wood utensils. Also, you can use a mild detergent with warm water to clean the utensils. Once the utensils are clean, allow them to dry.
  2. Use a soft cloth to apply the oil finish. Put a small amount of the oil on a soft cloth and rub it over the olive wood objects. Gently massage the oil into the wood to soak it and coat it.
  3. Wait for the oil to dry. Let the oil penetrate the olive wood and dry. If there was excess oil, wipe it out, then let the coat dry.
  4. Apply at least two more oil coats. Always allow the coat to dry before applying the subsequent coat. The oil’s drying time varies; hence you should always be patient to let the oil dry, then apply another coat.
  5. Sand between coats before applying the subsequent coat. After the oil has dried, sand the wood before applying another coat.

Although the procedure to follow when applying different oils is similar, always read the manufacturer’s instructions to note the specific essential application details. Always apply the oil according to the instructions on the bottle.

How Often Should You Apply Oil Finish on Olive Wood

Usually, applying oil finish on olive wood is not a one-off activity. Olive wood, like other woods, will get scratched or worn out. Therefore, the wood finish will require regular repairs at least twice yearly. Notably, the frequency can be higher depending on the specific purpose of the wood object.

Usually, if you use your olive wood products frequently, you need to treat them using the right oil finish regularly. You will know the products require treatment if they appear dull after using them for some time.

Failure to apply an oil finish after the previous layer has worn out will make the wood products begin deteriorating fast. Also, the water will likely start soaking the wood and swelling. If left untreated, the wood will begin to crack.

Therefore, to avoid deterioration of the olive wood products, apply the oil finish every time you notice the precious layer has worn off and the wood surface appears dull. The wood will remain in good condition for many years.

Benefits of Using Oil Finishes

The right choice of finishes for olive wood products enables the products to remain in good condition for many years. The following are other benefits of using oil finishes

  • The oils make the wood look freshly polished and feel like smooth silk in your hands. The oil finish enhances the wood’s natural color and keeps the wood looking like it’s new for years to come.
  • Wood that has been oiled can withstand the elements better. If a piece of wood is finished, it will not be prone to cracking and chipping, especially if it is exposed to different weather conditions.
  • Suitable for use on wooden kitchenware.The oils are odorless and without taste when dry and do not alter the flavor of your food.
  • Enhances the natural glow of the wood. Oils finishes are colorless or have a slight tint; hence they only enhance the wood’s natural sheen.
  • Oil finish protects the wood surface from staining and will be more resistant to water damage.Applying an oil finish on olive wood is not just about looks; it protects the wood from damage.

Conclusion

The above olive wood oil finishes help keep the wood smooth, sanitized, and supple. It’s always essential to apply the oils to the wood; otherwise, it will dry out and crack.

You can choose the right olive wood oil finish depending on the use of the piece and the look that you want to achieve.

Lastly, having gone through this article, we hope you can decide which oil finish will work best for your olive wood project.

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