The Walrus Oil Story
Hardworking Finishes for Wood, Leather, Cast Iron, and more!
OUR STORY
After one hell of a childhood riddled with years of health complications, Dave Darr graduates from college in 2009 and moves to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the kayaking and cycling friendly community. He refinishes antique furniture in his free time and starts experimenting with unique and natural ingredients that could be used as a wood finish.
A few years later Dave relocates to the Ozarks and starts a commercial woodshop supplying tables and cutting boards to restaurants made from locally sourced timber from the Ozark Mountains. Noticing a lack of food-safe wood finishes in the marketplace with transparent ingredients, he also begins bottling and selling his time-tested wood finish recipes. He called it "Walrus Oil", the name loosely inspired by the large mustache he was known for.
After one hell of a childhood riddled with years of health complications, Dave Darr graduates from college in 2009 and moves to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the kayaking and cycling friendly community. He refinishes antique furniture in his free time and starts experimenting with unique and natural ingredients that could be used as a wood finish.
A few years later Dave relocates to the Ozarks and starts a commercial woodshop supplying tables and cutting boards to restaurants made from locally sourced timber from the Ozark Mountains. Noticing a lack of food-safe wood finishes in the marketplace with transparent ingredients, he also begins bottling and selling his time-tested wood finish recipes. He called it "Walrus Oil", the name loosely inspired by the large mustache he was known for.
2017 - THE WALRUS IS BORN
Walrus Oil's initial market tests were very positive, but after a few short months demand unexpectedly explodes, thanks in part to a lot of happy customers sharing their experiences with friends and family. Quickly becoming a full-time job, Dave starts acquiring industrial brewing equipment. The following year Walrus Oil is featured in the world's largest woodworking magazine, Wood Magazine, and is picked up by the largest woodworking store chain in the USA, Rockler Woodworking. These milestones help establish Walrus Oil as a household name in the woodworking community across North America. Walrus Oil also begins exporting internationally.
Walrus Oil's initial market tests were very positive, but after a few short months demand unexpectedly explodes, thanks in part to a lot of happy customers sharing their experiences with friends and family. Quickly becoming a full-time job, Dave starts acquiring industrial brewing equipment. The following year Walrus Oil is featured in the world's largest woodworking magazine, Wood Magazine, and is picked up by the largest woodworking store chain in the USA, Rockler Woodworking. These milestones help establish Walrus Oil as a household name in the woodworking community across North America. Walrus Oil also begins exporting internationally.
2018 - TOOLS FOR THE BRUTAL NORTH
After frequent travels to Montana and Wyoming in the dead of winter, the region was adopted as a second home by Dave and his family. Using his brewing equipment and the same quality standards, he creates Logger's Lip Balm and Logger's Hand Salve, a 100% plant-based skincare line formulated to keep your skin moisturized and protected in the harsh conditions of the Northern Rockies. A line of leather care products were also created to help keep duck boots and leather goods better protected while hiking and working the old logging roads.
After frequent travels to Montana and Wyoming in the dead of winter, the region was adopted as a second home by Dave and his family. Using his brewing equipment and the same quality standards, he creates Logger's Lip Balm and Logger's Hand Salve, a 100% plant-based skincare line formulated to keep your skin moisturized and protected in the harsh conditions of the Northern Rockies. A line of leather care products were also created to help keep duck boots and leather goods better protected while hiking and working the old logging roads.
2020 & 2021 - ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE
Walrus Oil has donated profits to environmental programs since it's inception, however in 2020 they began a relationship with National Forest Foundation by committing to plant a few thousand trees in one year. The following year in 2021 they increased their involvement with National Forest Foundation by becoming an official tree planting partner, reserved for select businesses. The same year Walrus Oil officially became Climate Neutral Certified. To read more on our environmental initiatives, click here.
TODAY
Walrus Oil continues to forge a legacy of creating much needed tools, handcrafted by people who truly care about the environment as much as the product itself. Feel free to follow along as our story continues to be written. And from one small business to another, thank you; words cannot express enough our appreciation for everyone who puts their faith in us.
Walrus Oil has donated profits to environmental programs since it's inception, however in 2020 they began a relationship with National Forest Foundation by committing to plant a few thousand trees in one year. The following year in 2021 they increased their involvement with National Forest Foundation by becoming an official tree planting partner, reserved for select businesses. The same year Walrus Oil officially became Climate Neutral Certified. To read more on our environmental initiatives, click here.
TODAY
Walrus Oil continues to forge a legacy of creating much needed tools, handcrafted by people who truly care about the environment as much as the product itself. Feel free to follow along as our story continues to be written. And from one small business to another, thank you; words cannot express enough our appreciation for everyone who puts their faith in us.
"Above all else nurture a culture of good,
honoring your fellow colleagues with
patience, kindness, and respect, to cultivate
a harmonious team-centered environment
for all to succeed."