Frequently Asked Questions
We Wished This Product Existed. So We Made It.
When working with a very special dead tree that we recently milled, we were looking for the most natural way to finish it. Something truly safe for the home, safe to eat off of, protected the wood, and felt amazing to interact with. We scoured the market and found nothing up to our standards, so we decided to dedicate our lives to creating it ourselves.
Tell Me About Your Recipe
We are woodworkers, and we have spent hundreds of hours developing a recipe that we believe to be the best natural and organic way to finish wood. Our recipe combines modern research, trial and error, and historical recipes dating all the way back to the days of Leonardo da Vinci, and combines the best of both worlds into a wood finish that is truly a delight to use.
Seriously. We have tried every wood finish on the market, and this is still our first choice for many applications, primarily anything that comes into contact with food, or an interior woodworking project where you want the most natural feeling finish possible.
Drying Oil?
When a "hard drying" oil like our organic walnut oil dries, it goes through a process called polymerization. It takes a few weeks, but this oil dries completely hard and forms a lovely protective barrier from the elements over the wood
Wikipedia says: "A drying oil is an oil that hardens to a tough, solid film after a period of exposure to air. The oil hardens through a chemical reaction in which the components crosslink (and hence, polymerize) by the action of oxygen (not through the evaporation of water or other solvents)."
If you decide not to use our product, that’s totally okay, but we do want to give you one important tip: avoid non-drying oils on your wood. A lot of DIY or “natural” recipes out there call for olive or coconut oil, but these oils never fully cure. While they might add some shine and water resistance at first, over time, they can go rancid and leave your beautiful cutting board smelling… well, not so beautiful. That’s exactly why we use the highest quality, organic walnut oil, a true drying oil that hardens naturally, protects deeply, and keeps your wood fresh for years to come.
Speaking Of Walnut Oil...
Some of our products contain organic walnut oil.
Before starting Roostmade, we spent a lot of time researching the allergenicity of walnut oil. We know that nut allergies are no joke, and out of respect for those affected, we actually postponed our launch to make sure we were doing things right, protecting our customers while creating the highest-quality, most natural product possible.
We chose walnut oil for a reason. It’s long been regarded by the masters (yes, even Leonardo da Vinci) as the best hard-drying oil available. Da Vinci himself pressed walnuts to make his paints because walnut oil is crystal clear, never goes rancid, resists yellowing, and dries into a durable, lasting finish, the kind that stands the test of time (think Mona Lisa long).
In our research, we reviewed hundreds of scientific studies on refined walnut oil and its allergenic properties. While no definitive study proves that refined walnut oil is 100% allergen-free, the general consensus is that when edible oils are properly refined, their allergenicity is virtually eliminated. Still, if you have a severe walnut allergy, please use caution. Our product does contain refined organic walnut oil, and your safety always comes first.
The most relevant and modern scientific study, "Allergenicity of Edible Oils," was done by Susan L. Hefle, Ph.D. Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, University of Nebraska, states:
"In summary, the vast preponderance of edible oils consumed in the US is highly refined and processed to the extent that allergenic proteins are not present in detectable amounts. The majority of well-designed and performed scientific studies indicate that refined oils are safe for the food-allergic population to consume."
Roostmade Organic Wood Oil is designed to be rubbed into wood, not consumed. Technically, it’s made entirely from edible, plant-based ingredients that are all FDA-approved for food contact, so yes, you could eat it. But in our opinion, it’s much better used as a wood finish. We see this study as a strong indicator of virtually no risk, which is why we chose to move forward with our oil of choice: Organic Walnut Oil, made right here in the USA.
To go a little deeper on this topic (because we know people with allergies take their safety seriously, and we fully support that), here’s what we found.
Of all nut allergies, the most common and most severe is peanut. The fast-food chain Chick-fil-A cooks its food in 100% refined peanut oil. They reference the same study we mentioned above as conclusive proof of safety and do not list their peanut oil as a tree nut allergy warning because they are that confident. And since their customers are actually consuming the oil, not just applying it to wood, we feel confident that you’re in safe territory. Still, if you have a severe allergy, please take all necessary precautions.
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