Instructions: I just finished reading an article in a wood workers magazine about food safe finishes for wood. My husband is making me a butcher block top for our center island (about 20 sq. ft) and since this is going to be a working island, not just for pretty, I wanted to have a food-safe finish. The article (found in Apr.

98 Fine Woodworking) compared several food safe finishes, but the one I am going to try is one using beeswax and mineral
oil. Mineral oil alone works nicely, it doesnt get sticky or rancid like vegetable oil can, but the addition of beeswax sounds pleasant. The directions are as follows:
Warm mineral oil in a saucepan over low heat, and melt a chunk of beeswax equal to one-fifth or one-sixth the volume of the oil. (At high heat there is a potential for FIRE. Be sure to keep the heat low, and consider using a double boiler.) As the wax begins to flake apart and dissolve, stir frequently. When the mixture is blended, pour it into a jar to cool and solidify. To apply, wipe on an excess of the soft paste, let it dry a bit, then wipe it off. Like any mineral oil or wax finish that will take a lot of abuse, this one will need to be reapplied often to afford decent moisture protection. The same article also recommends using mineral oil sold in the drugstore as a laxative as opposed to that sold specifically for cutting boards, the article states there is no difference except cost.

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