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wood utensil finish

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Grunt:
I've been making wooden salad bowls for a long time. The first thing I do is raise the grain with water and then knock it down with 220 grit. I then use two finishes, Watco Danish Oil first and then Walnut oil. I flood the wood with Watco, put it up and wait at least two weeks for the Watco to dry. When the Watco is completely dry I hit the bowl again with 220grit and then apply a maintenance finish of generic walnut oil. By treating the wood in this way the finish is IN the wood not on the surface of the wood. Walnut oil will harden over time, not evaporate, and will not turn rancid.
Most of the above mentioned finishes offered by the other guys will work as they are penetrating finishes not surface finshes.
 

half eye:
Hey 33,
      This part of Northern Michigan used to be a major center for making wooden utensils (turn of the century) and I understand they made them from all kinds of wood (mostly Linden/ basswood though).
      Anyways, they finished them with vegetable oil by dipping them in the stuff when it's just short of boiling. set them aside for a bit then rub off the excess. Ya can wash 'em and everything and if needed all ya do is re-dip as necessary to refresh the "finish". When ya put the wood into the hot grease, it will actually foam (quite vigorusly too).....thats the air being driven out of the wood as the oil replaces it.........works pretty slick.   That's exactly how I finish my bows, only I use the grease/pitch combo instead. After about 2-3 treatments that wood will laugh at water, snow etc.  JMO
rich

youngbowyer33:
great! thanks alot everyone

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