Olivewood Lumber for Fine Woodworking

Olivewood (Olea europaea) from the Mediterranean region is a dense, close-grained hardwood with extraordinary figure — irregular swirling grain with light cream-to-yellow tones and darker brown-gold streaking. It has a fine texture, a natural lustre that polishes exceptionally well, and a pleasant subtle fragrance. Olivewood is used for turning, knife handles, decorative boxes, small furniture accents, and kitchenware.

Yes. Olivewood is non-toxic and food-safe once finished with a food-safe oil such as food-grade mineral oil or beeswax. The dense, fine grain of olivewood resists moisture absorption and is naturally antibacterial relative to more porous woods. Olivewood cutting boards and kitchen utensils are a traditional Mediterranean product and are both functional and highly decorative.

For kitchen and food-contact items, finish olivewood with food-grade mineral oil or a beeswax and oil blend applied repeatedly and allowed to soak in. For decorative pieces, penetrating oil finishes and varnishes enhance the natural lustre and figure. Olivewood's natural oils can inhibit some finishes — a light wipe with mineral spirits before applying film finishes improves adhesion.

Olivewood is hard and its interlocked, irregular grain requires sharp tools to avoid tearout. It turns well on the lathe and sands to a high natural lustre. The irregular figure means grain direction changes frequently across a piece — work carefully and use sharp tools in multiple directions to achieve a clean surface. It is worth the effort given the extraordinary finished appearance.

Windsor Plywood carries olivewood in turning blank and small board dimensions as a specialty exotic hardwood subject to current availability. Contact your local Windsor Plywood branch to confirm current stock for your project.