"The time has come,” the Walrus said, “to talk of many things..." - Lewis Carroll
Spot the Difference
Northern-hemisphere native, the Walrus, is a large marine mammal well known not only for their tusks and whiskers, but also for their habit of waxing lyrical before consuming defenceless oysters.
Walrus Oil (not a by-product of a wanting skincare routine), is a US company who make a fantastic range of natural and environmentally-friendly wood finishes.
While walruses were historically hunted almost to extinction for their oil, the company’s product contains no actual walrus oil. And as far as we’re aware, no walruses even work there. So, how did Walrus Oil (the company) get its name? It’s a simple story; the founder of the company is a reportedly rather hirsute gentleman whose facial hair is (or was at the time) reminiscent of the whiskers of a walrus. We assume that this is where the resemblance ends.
The Walrus Oil Range
What is Walrus Oil?
Modern industrial coating development has been focussed on high performance for demanding applications. Two-part varnishes and epoxies, spray lacquers, polyesters et cetera that are common in industrial scenarios need to be applied using specialised equipment in a dedicated space to reduce health and fire risks, as well as to avoid the pollution produced by their use.
In reaction to this, there has been steadily increasing demand amongst craftspeople and small workshops for finishing products that are non-toxic, environmentally safe, and easy to apply. Walrus Oil products fit the bill perfectly.
Their cutting board products are made from coconut oil and beeswax, and give excellent care to kitchen timbers. Meanwhile their furniture products are all based in high-quality tung oil – without the metallic dryers and other additives that can be a feature of other brands’ offerings.
One thing we really like is that Walrus Oil also make oils for your cast-iron cookwear as well as the blade of your axe – and even for your leather items! Again, no walruses are harmed in the making of any of these products.
Using Walrus Oil: Different Woodworking Applications
Using Walrus Oil products couldn’t be simpler, or safer. Each product has its own specific instructions, but in general you won’t need anything more than a rag and maybe a non-abrasive pad. And, we’ve found Walrus Oil products to be really forgiving. You can experiment with different application methods (some people like to use steel wool, for example!) and the oil will give subtly different results without ever ‘failing’.
Check out this video we made with woodworking novice Sara demonstrating how easy Walrus Oil is to use.
Note that Sara does not need any special PPE! However, it is wise to be cautious if you do suffer from skin irritation. And like any finish, we always recommend testing the product and the application method on an inconspicuous spot or piece of scrap, before committing to a full project.