How to Finish Wood With Walnut Oil

Walnut oil magnifies the beauty of wood furniture and flooring, while adding a protective finish. Unlike many finishes, walnut oil is all natural, which means it does not possess any toxic chemicals, although there is still a danger of nut allergies if food comes into contact with a walnut finish. Walnut oil finishes "in" the wood, rather than "on" the wood, like varnish, which means walnut oil does not form a layer on the wood. This prevents the finish from being chipped off and allows straight re-application without removal of the previous treatment.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Purchase a 100 percent walnut oil product if applying to a food preparation area. Some impure solutions may introduce potentially toxic chemicals, but pure walnut oil is non-toxic.

   • 2

     Apply liberal amounts of walnut oil over the area to be finished. Use a rag for small areas or a roller for large areas.

   • 3

     Allow the walnut oil to absorb into the wood for approximately 30 minutes.

   • 4

     Wipe off any remaining walnut oil, using a clean rag along the direction of the grain.

   • 5

     Repeat the procedure for a second coat, if desired. Walnut oil is non-curing, so one or two coats will be sufficient.