Question about spoons

[Flecktarnbiker]

Hi all
Sorr if this has been answered somewhere else but if it has then i cant find it. Anyway i was thinking of carving a simple spoon to use with my mess kits when out about and i was thinking of using sycamore. I already know how to carve it but when ive finished the spoon do i use it straight away or do i treat/ put something on it?
Any help will be really appreciated
Fleck

 

[Teepee]

Its a pure personal choice thing.

You can use them either way. If you don't want the spoon to stain though and have a little water repellency, using some food safe oil is a good idea.

 

[crosslandkelly]

If the wood is fresh, put in a paper bag in a cupboard for a week,to dry slowly. Should re okay then.Walnut or boiled linseed oil will seal it Hope this helps.

 

[Flecktarnbiker]

THanks for the help! i think ill leave it natural for now although might use oil next time. Would olive oil or sunflower oil work?

 

[Teepee]

THanks for the help! i think ill leave it natural for now although might use oil next time. Would olive oil or sunflower oil work?

Personally, I'd stick with oils that harden. Normal food fats can go rancid.

Walnut, Tung, Linseed to name a few are all drying oils and food safe.

 

[Kepis]

Dont use boiled linseed oil it's full of all nasty chemicals, you want raw Linseed oil, walnut oil is good, personally i use pure Tung oil or just leave the spoon un oiled, olive & veg oil can also be used to oil spoons but can turn rancid.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Cheers for putting me right Kepis, I thought it was the other way round.

 

[Kepis]

Cheers for putting me right Kepis, I thought it was the other way round.

Oops, sorry bout that, didnt see your post

 

[Flecktarnbiker]

Thanks guys i just got a bit of wood so i know what im doing now....

 

[Tat2trev]

hey bud i'm new to spoon carving i've carved four spoons now two i've used walnut oil as per my pics with no probs.The other two with olive oil and they turned yellow for some reason so i'm sticking to walnut oil.

 

[Harvestman]

The only downside to walnut oil (and it is what i tend to use) is you need to be aware that it makes the spoon unsuited to people with nut allergies. Worth bearing in mind if you are passing the spoon on to someone else.

 

[Flecktarnbiker]

Thanks for the info harvestman but im the only one using it no one goes near my swedish mess tins or their contents cos they know its mine!

 

[Mick w.]

I got a good tip from somewhere (probably on this site!) about how to get a really smooth finish on the spoon bowl; if you sand it, then wet it so the fibres stand up or something, then sand it again, it goes really smooth and is comfy in the mouth.

 

[Flecktarnbiker]

Thanks for the tip mick

 

[Sean Hellman]

Dont use boiled linseed oil it's full of all nasty chemicals, you want raw Linseed oil, walnut oil is good, personally i use pure Tung oil or just leave the spoon un oiled, olive & veg oil can also be used to oil spoons but can turn rancid.

Kepis, I hope you mean raw cold pressed oil from food shops or agricultural feed stores and not raw linseed from the hardware store. As far as know that oil also contains heavy metal or nasty dryers and should not be used for anything to do with food utensils. Raw untreated linseed oil unless sunbleached for months takes up to 3 months to dry. It is the only stuff I use.
Personally I never bother with oiling spoons unless for sale so they do not get so dirty by people handling them. I make them and use them, make them thin enough and they will just dry out fine without keeping them in a bag etc.

 

[Kepis]

Kepis, I hope you mean raw cold pressed oil from food shops or agricultural feed stores and not raw linseed from the hardware store..

Exactly that Sean, sorry, i should have been more specific, i used to buy it as Flax Seed Oil from the Health food shop, but moved over to using Pure Tung Oil ages ago on cost grounds and have stuck with Tung ever since.

 

[Sean Hellman]

High Barns oils is in the south east and 5 litres is 24 quid, this is stuff for horse feed, same as the food grade stuff but is taken from lower down the tank so is not so clear.

 

[Kepis]

High Barns oils is in the south east and 5 litres is 24 quid, this is stuff for horse feed, same as the food grade stuff but is taken from lower down the tank so is not so clear.

Always the way isn't it Sean, these people are 30 minutes from where i live and i don't think ive ever heard of them being mentioned locally.

I'll give then a shout next time i need to stock up with some oil or if im passing, i'll give them a ring and see if i can pop in and get some.

Thanks for the heads up.