FAQS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Is it really made with walrus?
Nope! It's just a clever name and walrus is federally protected anyways (thank goodness). Although we believe our wood finishes are as strong as a walrus, no walrus is used in the making of Walrus Oil.
Are your wood finishes food-safe?
Yes, we only use ingredients that are 100% FDA approved for food contact surfaces to make our products! This means you can use Cutting Board Oil or even Furniture Butter on your butcher blocks or wooden utensils.
Do your products contain VOCs?
No.
Do your products contain any dyes?
No.
Do you have detailed instructions on how to use all of your wood finishes?
Yes, go here for our "Product Application" page.
What product do you recommend for beginner woodworkers?
We recommend either our cutting board care kit or just cutting board oil as it is our most versatile product!
Do you have product SDS sheets?
Yes, you can find those here.
What is the difference between Wood Wax and Cutting Board Oil?
Cutting Board Oil penetrates and is a deep conditioner, while Wood Wax coats and seals the wood surface. When using both products together, apply the Cutting Board Oil first and then the Wood Wax as a final coat.
What is the difference between Pure Tung Oil and Polymerized Linseed Oil?
Read our blog on the difference between tung oil vs linseed oil here.
What is the difference between using Furniture Finish and Furniture Wax vs Furniture Butter?
Furniture Butter acts as a 2-in-1 finish and wax, conditioning and protecting the wood in a one step process. Any of these products can be used alone, but our fool-proof method for the best protection is to use Furniture Finish, Furniture Butter, then Furniture Wax in that order.
What's the difference between Cutting Board Oil and Furniture Finish?
Cutting Board Oil is non-polymerizing and is designed for food cutting surfaces that need to be washed frequently. Our Furniture Finish line is made of polymerizing oils, hard waxes, and pine rosin and is better designed for furniture that needs a hard surface protection.
Does Wood Wax or Furniture Wax protect against water rings?
Both Wood Wax and Furniture Wax are primarily made of waxes that are naturally water-resistant and will help prevent rings. If you notice water spots, generally they can be buffed out with a little wax or in some cases Cutting Board Oil if it was originally finished with it. Proper application also helps prevent water spots.
Where are your products made?
We are located in the Ozarks! We make everything in house.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Do you have detailed instructions on how to use all of your wood finishes?
Yes, go here for our "Product Application" page.
What is the best/most efficient way to apply your wood finishes?
For the oil-based products we generally recommend using a rag, an old t-shirt, or vinyl gloves. For waxes, an electric buffer is superior. When wiping off excess at the final step steel wool works excellent.
How often do you recommend reapplying oil/wax?
Depending on how often the finished item is used, we recommend once or twice a year.
Should I build up coats for new wood?
You can build coats with our Furniture Finish line, but it is not necessary. One or two coats should be sufficient.
What types of wood can I use your products on?
Our products can be used on all hardwoods, including exotic woods.
Can your finishes be used over paints and stains?
Our Furniture Butter can be used over most chalk paint, milk paint, or clay paints where an oil-based sealer is required.
How many square feet will an 8oz bottle cover?
It varies between products. An 8oz bottle of Furniture Finish can cover 25-38 square feet in one coat, and an 8oz bottle of Cutting Board Oil can cover around 25-30 8x10 inch cutting boards, both sides, one coat.
Can I use your products over epoxy?
Yes, woodworkers have successfully used our products on "river tables" and epoxy boards.
Can I use your products with polyurethane?
"There's no poly in Wally!" Our products are designed to be natural alternatives to poly, so we don't recommend polyurethane or other chemicals to be included in the Walrus Oil wood finishing process. When our wood finishes are applied correctly, polyurethane is not necessary. Let's keep it natural.
Do I have to wear gloves when applying your products?
We only use food-contact safe and skin-safe ingredients in our products, so you don’t have to wear gloves. However, they can help make cleaning up a little easier.
Can I apply your products outside?
You may apply our finishes outside and in open garages, but keep in mind when it's humid the oils may evaporate quicker as they are curing, and when it's cold some finishes may become thicker and potentially more difficult to apply. Room temperature is best for finishing wood.
Are your products suitable for outdoor projects?
For outdoor furniture projects, we recommend our Pure Tung Oil, Polymerized Linseed Oil, or Furniture Oil.
Can I use Walrus Oil with other brands of wood finishes and stains?
Walrus Oil is generally compatible with other wood finish brands and stains, as long as they are oil-based and fully cured. We recommend testing in a small area to make sure you like the results before starting and completing an entire project.
Can I use your products on wood spoons and utensils that will come into contact with hot liquids?
Yes you can! Keep in mind that when utensils are used for stirring hot liquids they may need to be re-oiled more frequently (once every month or two).
Are your products safe to use on antique furniture?
Yes, all of our products are safe to use on antiques.
Does Walrus Oil stain or darken wood?
Our products simply enhance the natural colors of wood in a way similar to how it looks when wet.
Do any of your products work on concrete?
Our Furniture Wax is perfect for concrete floors.
How do I give my project more sheen?
You can sand at a higher grit (400-420), or buff out the wax finish a little more.
Can you mix and match your products? For example sealing Cutting Board Oil with Furniture Wax? Or Furniture Butter with Wood Wax?
You can mix and match finishes and waxes as long as they are BOTH polymerizing or non-polymerizing. You can not mix a polymerizing finish with a non-polymerizing wax, and vice versa.
What finishes and waxes are polymerizing?
Our polymerizing finishes and waxes are Pure Tung Oil, Linseed Oil, Furniture Oil, Furniture Wax, and Furniture Butter.
What finishes and waxes are non-polymerizing?
Our non-polymerizing finishes and waxes are our Cutting Board Oil, Coconut Oil, and Wood Wax.
What is the easiest way to apply your product on a large surface area, such as on a deck?
We recommend using a paint brush to apply our products on larger surface areas.
What do I do if my project comes out cloudy or dull after using your products?
It should be sanded using a higher grit or buffed a little more.
I accidentally put Cutting Board Oil over Wood Wax and now it has a white haziness, what should I do?
No problem, just give it a good buff and reapply the Wood Wax.
I finished my countertop with your oil. Even though I let it dry for 24 hours, it is still leaving residue on paper. What should I do?
After buffing off excess finish, our products can still take a few days to feel dry-to-touch and up to four weeks to fully cure, depending on the finish used.
How difficult is it to buff out furniture care products over cutting board care products?
Since the furniture care products are polymerizing, they do require more buffing than cutting board oil/wax. They just need a little more elbow grease!
After applying and buffing away oil/wax, is it necessary to wash the board with light soap and water before cutting food on it?
There is no need to wash after applying finish! Just make sure to give it a good buff and allow 24 hours for drying.
What cleaning method would you recommend for cutting boards finished with Walrus Oil?
Gently hand washing with a light soap and lukewarm water will preserve the finish longer.
At what temperature should I store my Walrus Oil products?
Room temperature (68-74F)(20-23C).
Do your products have expiration dates?
All of our products are shelf stable for 24 months after the manufacturing date.
Can your products cause mold growth?
If the wood you are working with is completely dry (which is always necessary for woodworking) there is no way you could end up with mold caused by our products.
Could lemon juice cut through a wax seal?
Potentially, since the juice is acidic. If this happens you can just reapply a layer of wax.
Is your product flammable?
No.
If it's not flammable, why do some products have a spontaneous combustion warning label?
Our Furniture Finish line has this label as a precaution. During the polymerization process, the oils will warm up naturally as they harden/dry. In extremely rare circumstances this process can cause oil soaked rags to catch fire on their own. To date, we haven't had a reported incident of this happening with our products!
How do I dispose of any excess oil?
You can throw any excess away in the trash. Please do not pour it down the drain!
Can I wash my oil/wax soaked rag for future use?
Yes, you can wash it by hand. We do not recommend washing in the washing machine.
ORDER/ SHIPPING QUESTIONS
How do I change/cancel my order?
Email customerservice@walrusoil.com as soon as you can, we get things shipped out quickly around here!
Can I place orders over the phone?
Yes, our phone number is 417-773-9919
What if I don’t receive a confirmation email after placing an order online?
Contact customerservice@walrusoil.com
What is your return policy?
Click here for more information on our return policy. If you have any questions, please contact customerservice@walrusoil.com.
How can I be one of the first people to find out about restocked items?
If you are subscribed to our emails you will be notified when an item is restocked. Go here to sign up!
Where can I find your products aside from your website?
We sell on Amazon, Walmart.com, and Lowes.com. We also have a list of distributors here.
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes, orders that are $49+ qualify you for free shipping!
What if my tracking number has not been updated?
Give it 10 business days to be updated, if it has not updated in that time contact customerservice@walrusoil.com.
Why can’t you ship some products to Canada?
Because of certain regulations, it can take a while for us to get our labels approved. We are constantly working on it and hopefully will be able to ship all of our products to Canada eventually!
What are the steps I should take if I haven’t received my order after 10 business days?
You should contact your local post office first. If you still need help figuring things out you can email customerservice@walrusoil.com.
When will my order ship after I place it?
Most orders are shipped within 1-3 business days, but fulfillment times may take longer during our peak season. More info here
If I am a local, do I have to pay for shipping? Or can I pick up my order at Walrus Oil HQ?
Contact Customerservice@walrusoil.com if you want to pick up your order from Walrus Oil HQ.
WHOLESALE QUESTIONS
Where can I find information about wholesale?
Check out our wholesale info page here. You can also send an email to wholesale@walrusoil.com.
Does wholesale have a minimum purchase order?
For first open wholesale orders, there is a $500.00 minimum.
What if I cannot meet the minimum purchase requirement for my first order?
You may place small wholesale orders through Faire (3rd party wholesale sites do not contain full catalog).
Do you have any wholesale dealer guidelines?
No bootlegging or changing product labels!
As a wholesale dealer for Walrus Oil, may I use your product descriptions and images for marketing purposes?
Yes. All material can be found at Walrusoil.com
Where can I find a Wholesale Dealer Application?
An application is not required. You may email wholesale@walrusoil.com and provide some information, such as business name and contact person, type of business, number of years in business, and address and phone number to get started.
Do you offer free shipping for wholesale orders?
No, as free shipping will lead to an increase in product cost.
How do I place a wholesale order?
Email wholesale@walrusoil.com with your name of business and contact person, type of business and number of years in business, address and phone number.
Do you offer payment terms for wholesale orders?
Yes
What kind of discounts does wholesale offer?
Contact wholesale@walrusoil.com for more information.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
What is sustainable forestry?
Our goal at Walrus Oil is to plant as many trees as we can to replace the trees used for woodworking projects. Without trees, there would be no woodworking; and without woodworking, there would be no need for wood finishes. What helps the Earth, helps the trees, helps you and helps us! Sustainable Forestry is a conservation method that ensures all the trees don’t disappear one day.
What is 1% For the Planet?
1% For The Planet is an association of businesses committed to donating 1% or more of gross revenues to environmental organizations who work to help nature thrive.
What about all the plastic?
Our plastic containers come from a local company and are composed of up to 60% recycled material. We encourage our customers to reuse or recycle empty bottles, but we realize plastic is still not great! We take efforts to reduce our carbon footprint in other ways (such as planting trees).
How can I recycle my empty containers?
You’ll want to clean out any residue, and from there you can reuse the containers (the metal containers are especially good for storing anything from spices to screws and nails) or recycle them. Go here to find out where your local recycling center is!
What ingredients make your product vegan/vegetarian?
Our Furniture Finish line is certified plant-based because all of the ingredients used are derived from plants. Our Cutting Board Oil and Wood Wax are vegetarian because they contain beeswax.
Are your skincare products gluten-free?
None of the ingredients we use are derived from wheat, but our skincare products are not certified gluten-free.
Does your product attract ants or bugs?
Bugs are mostly attracted to sweet things; our products do not contain any sugars or sugar derivatives.
Why do your products say "not for consumption or skin" if they're food-safe?
All of our products are made with 100% FDA food-safe ingredients. Out of an abundance of caution, we put this disclaimer on wood finishes so they don't get confused for something else, like a cooking oil for example.