Safe food use timbers/pole lathe turning

[beachlover]

I've got an ongoing project where i'm gradually producing a six piece soup bowl and spoon set by carving rather than turning. George

Any chance of some pics?
I am a pre-novice carver and need encouragement and inspiration and in any case reckon that everyone would like a preview.

 

[Squidders]

I have a nice seasoned bit of cherry... about 3' x 1'... is cherry safe for eating utensils?

Joe

 

[Toddy]

What about Holly? A friend has asked because we've just heavily pruned a holly tree and she would like a white wood cup. One of the Galgael polelathe turners made me a holly spindlewhorl last year and it split before I got it home, I've had it soaking in a bucket of water on and off since but the crack refuses to settle. Is the cup really feasible?
I'm having no joy making glue from the bark, what am I doing wrong?? Really good yellow green dye on wool though

Toddy

 

[Snufkin]

Not sure about holly. I have a ladle that I'm working on but it's more of a decorative piece than practical. It doesn't smell very nice.

 

[george]

Any chance of some pics?
I am a pre-novice carver and need encouragement and inspiration and in any case reckon that everyone would like a preview.

Hi Beachlover

Sorry - no digicam at the moment - but seeing as the wife wants one for her birthday, I might get my hands on one soon.

george

 

[ChrisKavanaugh]

Not to be pedantic, but to be safe give the taxonic name for any wood mentioned. There are countless distinct plants that share full or partial common names. As an aside, my grandmother had a piece of irish jewelry carved from 'bog oak' Theres big money recovering logs that sank over a century ago during river transport and even old log cabin beams are being turned into fashionable furniture. Don't overlook oddball resources.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Holly....poisonous to eat (why would you eat wood?) but I don't know if it's bad enough to stop you using it to make utencils with....

Oh, the leaves and stuff are poisonous too....

I don't know about the wood being poisonous, but I doubt very much that you could get a big enough dose to even get belly ache from using a holly spoon and bowl.

I frequently chew holly bark, for its stimulatingly bitter flavour.

In Yorkshire, stands of holly trees (hollins) were traditionally kept to provide winter fodder for sheep.

The Scots, apparently, did this too.

http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum/atfresources/images/guide54pp.pdf

Keith.

 

[bambodoggy]

Looks like you're right about the rest of the tree Keith....seems to be just the berries that are not good to eat.....

I found this site which tells us all about the Holly tree....and several others too!

http://www.controverscial.com/Holly.htm

Bit of an odd site.... :roll:

 

[Toddy]

Thank you for the link...didn't know what to do with the holly for glue but having boiled it up and used the liquor for dye the strained bark is busy fermenting....we'll see what we get
Toddy

 

[brucemacdonald]

I've just made a spoon from holly cut down in my garden last year. I didn't think to check that it was poisonous but I'm not worried about it. It was lovely wood to work with, though.

 

[bambodoggy]

It seems that Holly is fine Bruce.....you just can't eat the berries! ):

 

[Chip Dale]

As far as i am aware, it is safe to use holly wood. As already mentioned the berries are poisonous containing high concentrations of ursolic and ilexic acid. Although this is also contained in the wood, it is in smaller quantities.

The wood has a number of medicinal properties, namely treatment for common cold, influenza, brochitis rheumatism and arthritis.

Research matter: Edible & Medicinal Plants, by Edmund Launert, Published by Hamlyn guides, ISBN 0-600-56395-2.
This book contains many woods, their toxicity and uses.

Hope this helps

 

[Toddy]

The wood has a number of medicinal properties, namely treatment for common cold, influenza, brochitis rheumatism and arthritis.

Research matter: Edible & Medicinal Plants, by Edmund Launert, Published by Hamlyn guides, ISBN 0-600-56395-2.
This book contains many woods, their toxicity and uses.

Hope this helps[/QUOTE]


It does, thank you

Toddy

 

[Paleoaleo]

I would love to see photos of the pole lathe! I tried making a bow lathe not long ago, but had some problems that I need to work out. I've since purchased a small electric lathe, and have become spoiled in the process!

Tom

 

[adrianl]

sycamore is the 'treen', (correct spelling?) wood of choice. It carves well,
grows like a weed, infact some consider it such! and has no taste. Supposedly it does not stain either but the spoons I made were never the same again
after curry night. Bright yellow is such an unattractive colour for wood!

 

[Toddy]

I would love to see photos of the pole lathe! I tried making a bow lathe not long ago, but had some problems that I need to work out. I've since purchased a small electric lathe, and have become spoiled in the process!

Tom

I'm struggling to work my way through the photos...three different digital cameras and all saved in differing formats, and the Galgael offices are being moved & renovated. I'll post some when I can fnd them..sorry
Meanwhile, there's good bodgers site on
http://www.bodgers.org.uk/index.html

One of our pole lather turners went to the big meeting, called the Bodger's Ball and came home declaring he had a new collective term for a gathering of assorted pole lathes. Pat called it an 'amazement'

cheers,
Toddy

 

[KIMBOKO]

To check the toxicity of woods you could try this excellent site. HERE
It also gives the book references.