i tried my hand at carving my first birch spoon, which came out pretty good! my question is.... when i put olive oil on it (i put 3 coats on) i just poured it out of the bottle right on the spoon. was i supposed to boil the oil first? if theres anyone who can help me out here id appreciate it very much.
birch spoon finishes
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No idea on the "correct" way but I use it cold out of the bottle, three coats is about what I used when I made my beech teaspoon.
I found that using olive made the spoons /wood smell rancid after a while, I now use either walnut oil or tung oil, and I do not put on lots of coats any more just the one, after five minutes I wipe off any excess and polish up, done.
Olive oil can go rancid after a while, use either pure linseed oil, flax seed oil, or walnut oil, if you are not allergic from any of the above.put your spoon in a vessel and put it in the oven on low heat for 15mins to half an hour should do it.
Cheers
Cheers
As above re olive oil.
Personally I like to heat a jug of oil in a microwave for 2-3 minutes (not enough to boil it, but get it hot), then either poour this over the piece, or just sit the spoon in the oil until it stops fizzing.
A downside of this is that if you use hot oil for too long, or get it too hot, it can slightly 'toast' the wood, darkening it. Not a problem if you don't mind that. I generally only do this for a spoon that I intend to see regular actual use, as the hot oil seals the wood very effectively.
Walnut oil and groundnut oil are my favourites, or rapeseed oil if I need to avoid nut allergies.
Personally I like to heat a jug of oil in a microwave for 2-3 minutes (not enough to boil it, but get it hot), then either poour this over the piece, or just sit the spoon in the oil until it stops fizzing.
A downside of this is that if you use hot oil for too long, or get it too hot, it can slightly 'toast' the wood, darkening it. Not a problem if you don't mind that. I generally only do this for a spoon that I intend to see regular actual use, as the hot oil seals the wood very effectively.
Walnut oil and groundnut oil are my favourites, or rapeseed oil if I need to avoid nut allergies.
Quite frankly no oil is needed at all for a user.
If you buy a cheap mass produced wooden spoon it will not be oiled and will last years. Just keep it clean and dry.
If you buy a cheap mass produced wooden spoon it will not be oiled and will last years. Just keep it clean and dry.
I agree, but an untreated spoon can pick up strong flavours like coffee or chilli, and is more likely to be stained by the food too.
i like to soak mine. i make a tray that forms round the spoon from tin foil, so the spoon can sit and soak in it's own little bespoke bath. take the spoon out, hang it up with a piece of cotton so all the excess oil drips back into the bath. then pour the unused oil back into the bottle.
cheers, and.
cheers, and.
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