Wooden knife handles are my favorite type of knife because they feel great, are comfortable to use, and also look amazing.
Wooden handles often get dull if you don’t take proper care. The rush of soap and water inside the dishwasher wraps up and splinters the knife handles.
No matter which type of knife you are using, a knife can only function well if its pair of handles are providing a perfect grip for your hand while cutting.
This guide will help you find all the Best Oil For Wood Knife Handles because it seems most of them are aware and simply use kitchen oil for oiling their handles.
When I started researching this topic, I scoured the internet and found many varieties of oils that are safe for kitchen knives and kitchen utensils.
But which oil is more effective? How to apply the oil? Are the oils dangerous to your health?
I know these questions are quite important to understand. That’s why I have gathered all the information and put it all together in a common window that can help you find the best oil for knives.
All you need to do is to find the most appropriate wooden knife handle oil according to your choice.
I have used some of them, but for the others, I have made deep research on the products that I have listed.
So you will not be harmed in any. Only if you are following what I am explaining. But before we go into the details of all the products, let’s know why it’s important to oil wooden handles.
Related Post: Best oil for a carbon steel knife
Are You In a Hurry, Then Check Out Below!
I know you are not having time to do complete research about it, but you want the best one so I have also chosen one of the best wood oil for knife handles.
So, you can check out Tried & True Danish Oil Finish. This is an amazing product and the best part is one of the best food-safe knife oil.
I have used this product and trust me it’s just amazing, and I hope you should get it.
To read the detailed review about the product then you can scroll down below.
So, now let’s understand why it’s important to oil knife handles.
Why Is It Important To Oil Wooden Handles?
We know wood is a natural material, and it gets affected by the change in the atmosphere, no matter whether you are storing or using your blades.
The change in the atmospheric condition can cause the wooden handles to dry out and shrink or even absorb the moisture to swell, and this can damage your blade handles.
Even the steel handle suffers from corrosion if it’s not protected properly. The shrinking of the expansion of the wood can reduce the overall life span.
Thus, you will be forced to make a replacement or buy another set of knives. Your knife handle might suffer from cracks because of dryness when it can resist the temperature.
So, it’s important to apply oil to the handles to increase the life span of your knife.
The knife handle finish can help to reduce the effect of all these changes and helps in maintaining the appeal.
Oiling your knife will give you peace of mind, and also you will save money.
Oiling wood occasionally can help in improving the life span of your knife by not allowing moisture to enter the wood and hence the wood lasts longer.
How To Choose The Best Oil For Knife Handles
There are many types of oils available oil available in the market and you are thinking about which one to buy. Well, the type of wood mainly decides which type of oil to choose.
Before getting your polish make sure you make a deep research on the wood and the ideal products for you to invest in.
It’s important to get the right quality of oil or else you might not get the outcome you are looking for. There are some factors that you might need to consider before choosing the oil for your knife.
- Water Effect: One of the main reasons to oil the wood is to protect the wooden chef knife from absorbing water. Water and moisture can cause a lot of damage to the scales of the blade. If the oil that you are using does not have water-repellent properties then you are not using the right product.
- Food Safety: Note that nothing is more important than food safety because if the oil that you are using is not food safe, then there is no point in using it kitchen. Make sure you avoid oils with a strong smell as the smell can transfer to your food during the preparation.
- Color Effect: Colour can play an important role because you don’t want your scales to change the color of the wood grain. While getting your oil be sure to get the right one according to your wood color.
- Drying Time: Some oils get dried faster while some take a long time. It’s possible to save time by getting a product that has a faster drying time. If your oil has a fast-drying agent, then probably you are going to save a lot of time.
1. True Danish Oil
Tried and true has been one of the leading manufacturers of furniture oils for years, and they make one of the best oil for wood knife handles.
They polymerize the superior linseed oil finish for an easy and fast application on any work on furniture and woodworking.
This oil is an excellent choice for any kind of woodworking from small to large projects.
The Sun side goes on a uniform and dries in about 12 to 18 hours for a smooth and uniform finish. The oil helps is water-repellent and prevents chalking.
It’s safe to use on most furniture and antiques moreover it’s food-safe, so you don’t have to worry about using it in the kitchens.
The walnut color brings a deep and warm tone to the handles. As it gets penetrates deeply into the surface of the wood, it helps the surface to give a beautiful finish to the wood.
2. Food Grade Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is a pure USP-grade cutting board oil that has been certified by the NSF. It has been tested in the lab to meet the safety standards of oil so that you can you in the kitchen.
It helps in maintaining the integrity of the wood and the countertops and knife blocks.
The mineral oil is hydrating penetrates deep into the wood and protects it from water by preventing dryness and cracks.
You can use it as a butcher block condition on the knife. The oil can protect many substances like bamboo, marble, and soapstone. Also, it prevents rusting of steel and metal knives.
The food-grade mineral oil protects and finishes the wood without hiding the natural grain.
It can resist water and mildew and it can help in preventing chalking. You can use any wooden kitchen items to protect and give a glossy finish to the wood. Mineral oil for knives is always a great option for treating your knife scales.
3. Howard Products Butcher Block
Another highly rated mineral oil is the Howard Butcher Block. This oil has a 5-star rating across the board and it’s amazing for knife handles and cutting boards.
It’s food-safe mineral oil specially designed for polishing wood. The oil is 100% pure-grade mineral oil, and it is colorless, odorless, and flavorless which makes the oil kitchen safe.
It helps in preventing moisture from penetrating the wood pores and it restores and protects the natural color of the handle and the cutting boards.
In addition, the oil helps in reducing the stain’s odors and it’s completely waterproof.
It’s thick but it doesn’t leave any thick residue behind and hence the liquid penetrated into the wood completely.
The quality of the product is just one of the best you can find as Howard Products are made in the US and the company follows strict quality control guidelines.
4. Caron & Doucet Oil
The next product is the Caron and Doucet oil. This oil has been specially designed for knife handles, cutting boards, and butcher blocks and is completely a mineral-free oil.
If you are someone who doesn’t like mineral oil, then this oil is a great option for you. This oil is perfect for oiling bamboo and wood.
The oil is 100% plant-based and is completely made from a natural product with no harmful ingredients.
The product is highly demanding and has an amazing customer rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon and it’s one of the best oil to condition wood.
It helps in reducing the strains and the best part is it can last for longer days as compared to other types of oils.
The oil is thick without being sticky even when you leave the residue behind. In addition, it’s completely made from tree nuts, and coconut and has 0% mineral oil.
It’s one of the best finishes for kitchen knife handles. So we are waiting for you to check out.
5. WALRUS Knife Handle Oil
The knife handles finishing oil is made from natural ingredients like Coconut oil, Mineral Oil, Beeswax, and Vitamin E and does not contain any harmful ingredients.
It is a 100% Food Safe FDA compilation and safe from food contact surfaces, so you can apply a thin layer of oil on the dried-out wood and let it dry and absorb the oil.
The oil can help to reduce stains, and odors and the company guarantees family satisfaction. The oil is designed to make all your wooden equipment waterproof and provide natural hydration.
The oil has the right consistency so that you can rub it easily over the wooden board. You can just simply put some drops and rub them.
This is the one that you are finding because it will give your handles a perfect look and also protect against water. Amazing! Easy to use and also provides protection.
6. Cutting Board Oil By CLARK’S
The oil goes deep into the knife block and helps in protecting against the water and UV. The Oil by CLARK is quite effective and a single coat can increase the sheen with multiple coats.
You can oil your knife and cutting board every 3 to 4 weeks to prevent the wood from dryness or cracking.
The delightful FRESH SCENT won’t overwhelm a combination of lemon and orange oil.
Your cutting board or knife handles will soak everything into the wood fiber once you apply it in just one touch.
CLARK’S is obsessed with healthy eating as it’s a food-safe oil for knife handles. It will never go rancid as plant-based oils do.
All the products from CLARK are made in the US, so you don’t have to worry about the quality and the support. Overall, it is also the best knife oil for your wooden knife handles.
7. Bamboogle Mineral Oil
Finally, we bring the Bamboogle mineral oil and which has a lemon & orange scent but is not overpowering.
It helps in restoring and protecting the wooden cutting board and knife handles. Hydrates, seals, and penetrates deep into the wood and prevents cracking, warping, drying, and rotting!
You can apply a generous amount of mineral oil on wood to the entire surface of the handles and let it soak overnight.
This will help the scales to make moisture-resistant and keep the wood lubricated enough.
It also has a patented foam application that works around every corner, odd angle, and even the edges, and you don’t have to mess with your fingers.
You can apply the oil on any type of kitchen utensil like knife holders, wooden bowls, plates, cutting boards, and backgammon boards. Amazing right?
Acceptable Oils For Waxing Kitchen Knife
As you know there are many types of oils available in the market and not all of them are safe, but there are a few of them you can use:
1. Danish Oil
One of the most popular oils for oiling knife handles. This oil mixture is based on Tung Oil and when you apply the oil, it deeply penetrates into the wood.
Danish oil is mostly a hard-drying oil, and it polymerizes to a solid form and reacts with oxygen and the atmosphere.
The Danish oil can provide hard-wearing, provide resistance to water, and also it’s an excellent choice for any kind of work where you want a satin finish.
2. Food-grade mineral oil
Another type of oil that is used is mineral oil. Probably this is one of the easiest types of oil finishes available in the market. It can easily oil knife scales and also most cutting boards.
3. Raw Linseed Oil
Linseed oils are almost safe to use in kitchens because we get them from the ripening seeds of the flax plant. You can also apply a thin layer of linseed oil and later rub the excess oil.
Using line seed oil is great for treating wood with oil and I have been also using it for oiling my knives.
4. Walnut Oil
Walnut oil for wood is the best replacement for mineral oil because it can actually help in curing the wood within. Wall-nut oils can extend the life of worn furniture as it’s rich in antioxidants.
Simply, you can rub a nut along the side of the groove and watch them vanish in front of your eyes.
You can also check out my latest post on the best epoxy for knife handles.
How To Oil a Knife Handle?
Here are some of the few steps that I follow when oiling my knife. You can also follow these quite simple steps:
Step 1: Cleaning
Cleaning wooden knives should be carried out properly and you might think routine cleaning might be enough too but this is not the case:
For a proper knife cleaning, you just need hot water and a stiff brush. Cleaning helps to remove all the dust and oily substances from the knife.
Step 2: Dry The Knife
Once you are sure that there is no dust and oil left behind, then now dry the knife. Make sure you wipe the extra water and let it dry properly, as it might not absorb the oil if it’s wet.
Step 3: Sanding
Once you are done with the cleaning and drying, now you have to look for any splinters and sand the scales using fine sandpaper.
While, sanding make sure you don’t overdo it, as this might damage the scales.
Step 4: Oiling
When you are oiling your handles, use a piece of cloth or paper towel. Pour a small about of oil on the cloth and let it saturate down.
Now apply the oil to the handles and once you apply leave the knife on the window ledge under direct sunlight so that the oil gets absorbed.
Once all the treatment is done, you can leave the knife for about 3 days for curing.
Wrap Up on Best Oil For Wood Knife Handles
Well, you would probably have gone through all of them, and the best part which needs to be considered selecting one of the best oil for wood knife handles.
In my option and based on the number of customers reviews the top three are the most popular type of oils for your knife handles.
Danish oil by tried and true and food-grade mineral oil would be good for you if you are looking for a long-lasting solution.
The Carona & Doucet will be the best if you are looking for mineral-free oil. You can grab based on the customer review and the rating given by the buyers.
I hope I have provided all the details and the best out of the collections based on the knife handle types.
FAQ: How To Care For Wood Knife Handles
Finding out the best oil for knives can be really difficult and that is why people ask a lot of questions. These are some of the most commonly asked questions and we have answered them.
Q1. Why shouldn’t use olive oil on knife handles?
The major down set of using oils like (Olive oil, Sesame seed, peanut, and coconut) is they are good for the short term. However, in the long run, it gets oxidized with the wood and goes rancid, and produces an unpleasant smell that nobody likes.
Q2. What is the popular oil you should stay away from?
Here are a couple of oils that you must avoid using Olive, Coconut, Avocado, Peanut, Macadamia nut, and Grapeseed oil. These oils will never help to polymerize, but they are rich in fats and they will eventually oxidize when exposed to air & light and form a sticky substance on the surface which nobody likes.
Q3. How much time will it be for a knife oil painting to dry?
This usually depends on the type of oil that you are using. Usually, Mineral oil gets dry sooner and danish oil and other types of oil might take a longer time when compared to Mineral Oil. Approximately Mineral oil takes around 4 to 6 hours, but other types of oils might take about a day. Make sure you avoid drying in direct sunlight.