Maker Matt provides a cost-effective DIY method to create your own butcher block conditioner. The guide offers step-by-step instructions, including the necessary products, the process, and a cost comparison to store-bought alternatives.
If you’re a heavy user of butcher block conditioner, particularly for making cutting boards or outdoor furniture, this DIY project can save you money and reduce waste. Besides maintaining wood-ware, I also use it to clean and refresh all my wooden tables, even those with varnish or epoxy finishes.
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Make Butcher Block Conditioner for 1/3 the cost
Ingredients
- 4 * 16 oz food grade mineral oil
- 1 pound bees wax
Procedure
- Make a work area that can handle a small mess.
- Put a liner in a slow cooker.
- Add 4 * 16 oz bottles mineral oil
- Heat on high for 30 minutes
- Add wax, wait a bit, mix
Cost to make versus buy
| Item | Amount | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral oil, 4 * 16 oz | $2.08 | $8.32 |
| Wax, 1 @ 1 lb | $11.99 | $11.99 |
| Jars | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Total cost was $20.31 for about 68 oz of product. This comes down to $0.30 per oz. Contrast this with $8.98 for 12 oz Howard Butcher Block Conditioner from Amazon and this works out to $0.75 per oz. If we had to purchase jars or tins it would have cost more, we just used canning jars that were laying around.
Products you will need
Best place I found for this was Walmart. You will need 4 * 16 oz bottles for this recipe.
And one of these:
Too much hassle, just buy the stuff
Ultimate guide to making & using wax polish for woodworking
Why you should not use mineral oil
Provided for completeness, I’m a fan of mineral oil!