rejuvenating a homemade wooden spoon

Great minds must think alike- just did the same thing to a salad bowl and salad fork/spoon.

I have recently changed over to Mineral Oil… or as we call it Paraffin oil… I now swear by it…NO glue lift… the boards stay smooth and the grain and color pop.

-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au

... and it keeps you regular too.

Nice spoon!

-- Chunk

Larry—I am confused!!! I thought paraffin oil is what we call kerosene (similar to heating oil or diesel) or is that what the British call kerosene????

Maybe we need an American / British /Australian / whatever/ dictionary !!!

Three peoples divided by one language!!!!

-- Fred, Springfield, Ma

You should have one very regular spoon now Dan

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Cool looking spoon! Have you considered using Walnut Oil? Mineral oil is food safe, but never dries and will wash out with soap and water. The Walnut Oil is supposed to build successive layers as you treat the implement. Also, it’s not a nut oil so you don’t have to worry about people with nut allergies.

I treat my spoons once an hour for a day, once a day for a week and once a week for a month. Then every month or two when it starts looking dry.

-- IN REMEMBRANCE OF MY NEPHEW: Cpl. Ben Desilets - USMC KIA 22 May 2007 Anbar Iraq

Great looking spoon. Nice job!!!

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

It looks great!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Nifty.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Terry, I’m curious how you think walnut oil is not a nut oil. I checked some sites out on how it’s made and found this quote on a forum

“In brief to make walnut oil you gather, dry, & crack your walnuts. Then you grind them finely and ‘cook’ them. After cooking they’re pressed & filtered and are ready for sale.”

I thought maybe it’s made from the tree itself, and not the actual nut, but I can’t find any evidence of this. Please explain

-- Childress Woodworks

Chidress,
I had the same concern as one of my g-sons is allergic. I fired off an email to Highland WW, purveyors of Mahoneys Walnut oil.
I’ll post their response.

-- Gene

I think the food grade Walnut oil would be safe.

Check this out.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

for what is worth my wife is allergic to nuts, the ONLY exception being walnuts. it would seem that walnuts don’t have the particular allergens that cause problems

-- Fred, Springfield, Ma

I can’t seem to find the article that I read. It has to do something with the fact that Walnut oil (at least the Mahoney’s Walnut finish) isn’t made from the nut oil. I believe it’s made from parts of the tree if I’m not mistaken. I’m an internet nut, and I researched it to death before switching over to it. I’ll post it up when I find it. But I distinctly remember that it was safe for people with nut allergies because it wasn’t actually nut oil. I’ll send it to you when I find it.

-- IN REMEMBRANCE OF MY NEPHEW: Cpl. Ben Desilets - USMC KIA 22 May 2007 Anbar Iraq

Here is the reply I received from Highland.
They are not sticking their neck out, for sure.

Thank you for your inquiry.

This oil is heat treated and cures, unlike oil you get at the supermarket. Does the “cured” form mean it would not cause an allergic reaction? I do not know.

Since food manufacturers list that certain foodstuffs are processed on machinery used to process other foods that contain nuts, it seems that with some people, even the smallest amounts of the nut can be problematic.

You need to ask yourself what level of risk you are comfortable accepting. You can use a mineral oil finish (a non-curing finish) and remove the worry of nut allergies completely.

See it here:

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/butcherblockoil.aspx

For a curing finish that is non-toxic, once it is completely cured, see this link:

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/behlensaladbowlfinishpint.aspx

Regards,

Ed

-- Gene