Are you looking for a natural-looking seal for your kitchen bench tops? And, you'd like something that's food safe and easy to use? Enter Gilly's Kitchen Bench Oil. A wonderful solution that will nourish, protect and enhance any timber or bamboo surface that is exposed to water and other spills. This includes any timber in a bathroom or laundry setting.
We don't use any synthetic driers in our Kitchen Bench Oil, which is why you do need to wait up to 30 days for it to cure. The integral ingredient in our formulation is tung oil, which is derived from the seed of the tung nut, which in turn, comes from the tung tree. Unfortunately, these are not grown in Australia, so we do have to import the raw material. Tung oil is what is classed as a naturally drying oil - when it is exposed to oxygen, the molecular structure changes to create a water repellent layer within the timber.
Our Kitchen Bench Oil smells lovely, enhanced by the addition of May Chang essential oil, which has a subtle, zesty lemon-like fragrance. It is very easy to apply. Although there is the curing period, you can use the surface once it is touch dry beforehand, as long as you are careful to wipe away spills immediately. Any food preparation should be done on a chopping board rather than directly on the surface until it has cured.
Before you apply the oil, you will need to ensure that the surface is thoroughly sanded and dry. You should be able to remove any oily marks or stains with a citrus solvent (food safe) or a good scrub with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
We used the following to apply ours:
240 grit sandpaper to smooth the surface before application
A natural bristle brush to apply
One of our bamboo polishing cloths for wiping away excess oil
We love the way the oil brings out the depth and grain of the timber
Here's how to apply the oil:
Step 1: Rub or brush oil into the timber. Lighter coats are better.
Step 2: For the first coat, let it sit for 5 minutes after applying. Wipe more oil onto areas that become dull, as the oil soaks in.
Step 3: After 5 more minutes, wipe off any excess oil with another clean cloth and rub it back vigorously.
Follow this procedure for each coat. Note: Some people prefer to wet sand between coats, however this is generally only for timber that is quite porous.
Step 4: Apply a total of 3 coats. Best to wait 24 hours between coats (curing time can be up to 30 days). Apply more coats if desired or necessary.Hang out any rags or soak in water, rather than leaving scrunched up, as there is the potential for combustion.
Once you are happy with the finish, leave for the full 30 days (probably a little less in the warmer months) before any heavy use.
The Kitchen Bench Oil is a matte finish. If you would like to enhance it further by adding a sheen and a little more mechanical protection, we recommend applying our Food Safe Wax. This is very easy to use and can be kept to maintain and protect down the track, as long as it is kept airtight.
