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Maintaining oil finish on bowls

Dean Center

Dean Center

Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
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Location
Bozeman, MT
I'm about half way through sanding and finishing my first bowl, made from my neighbor's heavily trimmed tree. From reading, I gather that professional turners provide a little note of instruction with oiled bowls so the customer knows how to maintain the wood. I got to wondering, when I start giving out the eventual bowls from the half garage of wood I've now got and tell the recipients how to maintain, what oils will work? Must they have a bottle of Mahoney's Walnut Oil or can they use something they've got around the house? Would corn/sunflower/safflower/canola/olive oil work?
Thanks for the help.
 
There are oil treatments and oil finishes.

I assume from your question that you intend to use the oils alone, without added resin to toughen them. Leaves you with the curing oils. Easily obtainable are: Linseed, Tung, Walnut, Safflower and Poppy, if you can afford it, and all will cure. They are not, as are oil treatments, "renewable," since the cross-linking, once complete, cannot be broken apart. They may be recoated, providing you get a clean surface for mechanical bonding.

Oil treatments like mineral, olive, corn, canola and other vegetable oils don't cure into films, and so are replenished or renewed as they are washed away. The vegetable oils, if stored with partial access to oxygen, have a tendency to get rancid, so if you sell salad bowls, which will eventually have a treatment of whatever oil they use for salad preparation, advise them not to nest the bowls.

Cured finishes can be wiped with detergent and damp rinsed to kill bacteria. Those which don't cure can be washed away with detergent and replaced. In any case, I recommend a wipe with vinegar prior to use as a decent antibacterial. I use urethane or alkyd finishes for most bowls. They cure, and last better for the addition of the resin.
 
Mike Mahoney Bowlmaker

Here's what's on the back of cards Mike provides with his bowls.

"This wood has been recycled from an urban forest. The wood used was destined for a city landfill or a firewood pile. This bowl is a great kitchen utensil: use it to serve pasta, salad, popcorn, and fruit. After use, simply hand wash with warm water and soap, then let it air dry. Please do not soak it in water or put it in the dishwasher or microwave. Occasionally recondition the bowl with walnut oil or mineral oil. With proper care, it will last for generations...making this bowl a family heirloom. Please share it with the next generation of food lovers!"
 
Funny thing here is that Mike doesn't put anything on his personal home wood wear. They season naturally.

robo hippy
 
Dean, Michael laid it out pretty well. If you seal the wood pores with a hard finish that cures out it will keep the bowl looking great for a long time. I do not mean a built up finish. But say a thinned down poly or varnish wiped on and off for a couple coats. Or Mahoneys walnut oil. I have heard zero complaints about Mikes finish and know he did plenty of research to make what he has. I also agree to tell the buyer to hand wash with soap and water and hand dry. And if the bowl looks a bit dull over time to give a thin wipe of mineral oil. And as Michael said, other oils that tend to go in salad oils if not washed up will go rancid. And make a sticky black mess of your bowl. After more than 20 years of making salad bowls I sure have seen the good bad and really bad. The really bad is soaking in the sink but they did not mean to but not washing it. And putting a salad oil on the bowl and putting it in a plastic bag untill next use. Sticky, gross and stinky. Nothing you can do will make the bowl better in the makers eyes. Do not hesitate to say soap and water.
 
Thanks to all for the feedback. I figured there must be a reason everyone didn't use grocery store oils. And it's reassuring to know that tung and walnut will be durable.

BTW, when I got to nearly the last part of the bowl, while carefully shaving the edge, a chunk of the heartwood blew out. Is it just my imagination or do the piece-ruining events always happen the very last thing?

Dean
 
Dean, you made me laugh. No, those events can happen anytime. Its just the pits when its the last cut. And try not to think of it a bowl ruining event. You now have an opportunity. You may have to look around you for awhile before the right one for that piece comes to you. Carving, patches, color and carving. Additions. Inspiration can be found by past magazines. Or post a photo of the piece and ask for ideas.
 
Interesting alternatives, Kelly. The bowl isn't anything special, except it's my first, so I used the opportunity to practice a few things. Now it's beyond all the sandpaper and glue in the world. I learned a ton and I've only got 4999 bowls to go before I can show one to everybody.
 
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Dean, if its your first bowl keep it. Do not throw away or burn. In years to come it will remind you of just how far you have come. And showing your first bowl compared to where you will be is good fun. Not sure how many pieces I have done. But for sure over twenty thousand. And I still mess up.
 
momentoes

KellyDunn said:
Dean, if its your first bowl keep it. Do not throw away or burn. In years to come it will remind you of just how far you have come. And showing your first bowl compared to where you will be is good fun. Not sure how many pieces I have done. But for sure over twenty thousand. And I still mess up.
Click to expand...

Kelly-I too keep these disasters. One beautiful large ambrosia bowl was blown at the last cut. It had a ring shake and about a 5-6" section of the rim came out. It sits on my dresser. had about 6 hours into that bowl!!!!! Another one I was getting "greedy" and making thin-my potato "chip era" I could hear a different noise and there was metal at the bottom-my chuck- It sets on my chest/trunk. Reminders that we aren't perfect!!! (at least everytime)
. Gretch
 
KellyDunn said:
Not sure how many pieces I have done. But for sure over twenty thousand. And I still mess up.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Kelly. I thought I only had 4999 to get to the land of competence, and now you've moved the marker. 😱 I don't think I'll live long enough to make 20,000 of anything except mistakes. (only 2 more and I'm there!)

Seriously, I appreciate the help and encouragement.
 
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