Camellia Oil

**jaspr** · 7th December 2007, 05:52 PM

Some information for those of you who use camellia oil on their hand tools - and who lament the high cost of it.

I just found some in Coles - "Phase 5" 100% camellia tea oil. It sells for $10.25 for 500 ml, as opposed to $15-20 per 240 mls from Carbatec, Lie- Nielsen and others. It looks, feels and smells just like the variety I use.

According to wikipedia -"Tea seed oil (also known as tea oil or camellia oil) is an edible, pale amber-green fixed oil with a sweet, herbal aroma."

Fixed oil is just one that is plant or animal in origin and is a fatty oil, as opposed to the volatile essential oils.

I did some web searching to find out more about it and found a reference on the Axminster site (UK tool seller) that says their camellia oil has an admix of light machine oil. But I have always thought that the Japanese used it straight!

For those who don't know, as well as its use for tools, it also been used:

in paints,
by the Chinese for cooking (because of its high smoke point),
in food - as a good source of omega-9 and vitamin E
in hair oils - apparently promoting hair growth,
in cosmetics, and
in anti-ageing creams.

So now you can afoord to throw it around a bit - just rub the excess into your skin - or scalp - or, whatever. (Unless you are using the Axminster brand!)

**Green Woodchips** · 7th December 2007, 09:58 PM

Good find! Is it just in with the other cooking oils?

Cheers,
GW

**thumbsucker** · 7th December 2007, 10:15 PM

I have seen it at Coles, it is kept in the Health food section.

I have not tried it, I am not sure if it is the same stuff, how refined it is.

I will say that it is great for dry skin, I always give my tools a shoot and then one for me.

jaspr have you tried the stuff in Coles yet?

**Des.K.** · 7th December 2007, 11:58 PM

Haven't seen the stuff in Coles, but I doubt whether it would be too different from the camellia (tsubaki) oil for tool use.

I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to, but in case anyone's feeling extravagant or adventurous, I'd advise against using the tool-use camellia oil on your salad - it says on the label that it's not for use in foods.

So there would probably be some minor differences.

Regards
Des

**JDarvall** · 8th December 2007, 09:01 AM

Thats Excellent Jaspr. Thankyou.

I've been wondering myself for a long time about that. I've always used engine oil, wd-40 or whatever....finger tips blacken up quick.

As long as it doesn't dry out to a sticky sort of mess. For me thats worse. I noticed that with Lanolin. Goes on real nice, but drys out all guey.

**Pusser** · 8th December 2007, 11:30 PM

Thanks for the thread, Balked at buying a replacement bottle at Carbatec as they only had the Lie Neilson in stock when I was there. Tried Coles at belconnen no luck. Tried the health food store and picked up a 500 ml bottle for $14. A bit more expensive than the coles version but it is 100% cold pressed extra virgin! - wonder if the tools notice the better flavour?

Still cheap compared to the woodworker shops!

**kevjed** · 9th December 2007, 10:12 PM

I picked up some of the Coles stuff today. Seems great. Thanks for the tip on Coles.

**prozac** · 10th December 2007, 12:04 PM

Thanks for the tip.

prozac

**jisk** · 10th December 2007, 09:20 PM

Awesome mate, I'll be picking some up! Saves me a trip to carbatec.

**jaspr** · 11th December 2007, 01:30 PM

I did buy some - to test - and it seems fine - I can't detect any difference.
(It worked well in the wok too!)

**Fuzzie** · 11th December 2007, 04:40 PM

The local Coles carries two types of 100% oils from Phase5 - an 'unqualified' Camellia tea oil and 'Extra Virgin' Camellia tea oil.

The extra virgin is a darker yellow and as far as I could tell from the label was just more aromatic than the standard issue.

So which one to try?

**JDarvall** · 11th December 2007, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by jaspr

I did buy some - to test - and it seems fine - I can't detect any difference.
(It worked well in the wok too!)

I've never used any kind of camellia oil before.

Does it dry out sticky ? .....say if you coat a tool and don't use it for a while, when you touch it again, is it all sticky ?

**rsser** · 11th December 2007, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Fuzzie

The local Coles carries two types of 100% oils from Phase5 - an 'unqualified' Camellia tea oil and 'Extra Virgin' Camellia tea oil.

The extra virgin is a darker yellow and as far as I could tell from the label was just more aromatic than the standard issue.

So which one to try?

Always go for the one with more experience.

**Fuzzie** · 11th December 2007, 08:52 PM

"unqualified" and "extra virgin" both sound like similar lack of experience to me

**Pusser** · 11th December 2007, 11:22 PM

Coles in Canberra do not seem to carry it but Woolworths do - the Extra virgin Cold Pressed only. Marked down to $8.95. hope we have not discovered it as it is being phased out

. Pity I paid $14 in the health food shop.

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