4. The problem of protruding fibers in oak

If you have used oak products, you have probably noticed that the surface of the product becomes rough after the first washing.

First of all, this effect is normal for all species of wood with long fibers – oak is one of them.

RISING FIBER EFFECT – WHY DO OAK FIBERS RISE UP?

When wood is cut into strips, the saw cuts through the fibers leaving unprotected ends on the surface.

If the board is not properly protected (left raw or only oiled), the ends of the cut fibers can be easily damaged and lifted by water.

Therefore, protruding fibers appear on the surface of the board, responsible for the roughness effect:

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET RID OF FIBERS FROM THE OAK?

If you have already purchased a raw or oiled board, you will most likely experience the problem of protruding fibers.

To get rid of them, just use the rough side of a sponge to wash dishes and wash the board with it for a few minutes, as we suggested in our short video:

WASHING AN OAK BOARD FOR THE FIRST TIME – TUTORIAL

After such treatment, the fibers will be eliminated and will not appear again.

If you haven’t made a purchase yet and you have doubts due to the problem of rising fibers, we have a solution that prevents this problem.

The solution is to use hard wax as first care instead of regular vegetable oil.

WHAT IS HARD WAX?

Hard wax is a food-safe wood care product that was created to protect wooden kitchen countertops.

The composition of the wax includes a mixture of natural waxes, modified oils and vegetable and renewable fatty acids.

Hard wax creates a kind of protective film on the surface of the board (but does not make it waterproof!)

Due to its properties, it sticks the fibers to the surface to some extent, which limits the effect of rising fibers.

This is especially important when first contacting water.

The hard wax is washed off after approximately 10 washes – however, the oak fibers should be leveled by then.

Later, the board can be cared for with regular oil.

Reusing hard wax is not required to keep the board in good condition.