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+-- Thread: First Spoon (/showthread.php?tid=7182353)
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Re: First Spoon - SCMedLion - 01-01-2016
Don't have an answer on the finish, but GREAT JOB on the spoon!
Re: First Spoon - fptahoe - 01-01-2016
Don't know anything about the finish, but that spoon is beautiful! Well done!
Re: First Spoon - Phil S. - 01-01-2016
Beautiful spoon, Hank, whether it's your first or hundredth. As far as finish goes, if it's a display piece it doesn't make much difference. You can use whatever finish you prefer. If its a user, it won't stay looking like it does now no matter what you put on it. I don't know of anything you could put on it that will weather the wear a spoon gets. I use wood butter, a mix of mineral oil and beeswax, on my wooden ware. When it starts looking dry it, I warm up the article to help with penetration (not that I believe I get much, but one can hope) and smear on a liberal amount. Rub it in the best I can and wipe off any excess with a rag or paper towel. Anything that gets much use needs to be freshened up every couple of months. Goes without saying, don't run it in the dishwasher and don't let it sit in water for longer than it takes to clean it. You might as well resign yourself to the fact that you will need to carve another one, but that isn't such a bad deal anyhow.
But if you want to use tung oil, it has been blessed by the USFDA as approved for food contact. Remember, that's for pure tung oil, not necessarily for any driers or other additives that may have been put in it. I'm not sure how hard it is to find pure tung oil, but I see the Real Milk Paint outfit sells it and makes a big deal about it being pure.
Re: First Spoon - BaileyNo5 - 01-01-2016
First, that's a really nice first effort, very impressive.
And you are correct on the finish as well. Get a pure tung oil without dryers, that is food safe (if it doesn't say "Food Safe" on the label, it probably isn't). It will absorb into the pores and set up, acting as a water repellent and prolonging the life of the spoon. Apply multiple coats, allowing each to sit for an hour or so before wiping off. Repeat daily until you get tired of it (3 or 4 usually works for me). The last coat or two can be sanded in with 200 or 400 grit if you like, before wiping off. Then I let it sit for at least a week or more to allow more complete curing - tung oil cures slowly. You can also apply gentle heat (think one of those passive drying enclosures with a light bulb) at this point. After this curing process, I apply a coat of beeswax melted in walnut oil and let it sit overnight. Wipe off in morning, and start using it. Apply wax/oil finish as needed, when the spoon seems dry.
Re: First Spoon - Aram - 01-01-2016
Beautiful work.
Re: First Spoon - ncosman - 01-01-2016
Really nice!
I got to watch Peter Folansbee make spoons for a couple of hours a couple of weeks ago. I am itching to give go.
I asked him about finishes and he recommend nut oils like walnut oil or peanut oil. Also pure linseed oil (not BLO).
I bought some walnut oil at the whole foods down the street.
Re: First Spoon - Steve N - 01-02-2016
Nicely shaped spoon, great for a first try
About finish. On a cutting board I go straight to the mineral oil/wax mix, and have never looked back. But for other treenware like your spoon I use walnut oil. This guy is all about natural, and he came to the same conclusion.
FWW came up with the usual suspects
Tung oil advocate But said they jumped off Walnut oil as it didn't dry. I've not had that issue, maybe brand names of oil? I got mine at WoodCraft, says 100% pure Walnut oil, this article just said walnut oil?
I think overall the FWW "food safe finishes" list is going to work out. At least it shouldn't have a the kids growing a foot.
Re: First Spoon - MichaelMouse - 01-02-2016
Use will color and "finish" it if you're going to do more than show. I use Walnut oil on mine to slow the absorption and aging process. Warm oil, to refusal, wipe, then leave alone for a week.
You don't want the one that says "XXX added to retard spoilage," doesn't cure well. If you can find solvent extracted oil, like they use in Europe, it'll be absolutely free of any walnut proteins which might concern the nut nuts.
EDIT: Mahoney's is supposed to be solvent extracted. Expensive, so I don't use it.
Re: First Spoon - Herebrooks - 01-02-2016
Great spoon Hank!!! Alot of spoon carvers are using Tried and True finish. The small can of finish with oil and beeswax emulsion with last a lifetime. Spread it with your fingers(good for your hands too) and let it dry in a warm spot after wiping off the excess. All their finishes are food safe, one of them will dry hard.
You're a natural if that was your first spoon.
Bill
Re: First Spoon - Bibliophile 13 - 01-02-2016
Very nice work, especially for a first spoon! I hope there will be many more to come.
I've made, finished, and used a lot of spoons. From my own experience, here are a few notes on finishing spoons.
- A lot of woods benefit from raising the grain and sanding it back before finishing. Many woods will tend to fuzz otherwise, but raising the grain before sanding results in a smoother finish. Just rinse with water and let dry completely before the final sanding.
- Neither the USDA nor the FDA actually certifies wood finishes as "food-safe." That's a claim that a few companies are willing to put on a few of their products, but the claim is not verified by any government agency as far as I know. Here's an interesting overview from Bob Flexner, Practically all wood finishes sold in the USA these days are non-toxic when fully cured (though you probably wouldn't want to ingest a whole lot of varnish chips). So use whatever oil finish comes to hand. I use Danish oil, but tung oil or even BLO should be fine. Purists like to use walnut oil, raw linseed oil, or an oil/beeswax mixture--they all work fine.
- The finish will last longer if you wash the spoon in clear, hot water instead of soapy water. As long as you wash the utensil promptly and get all the food particles off, it should be a perfectly safe way to clean your spoon regularly, unless you've been using it to mix up raw meat or something, in which case a bit of soap is a good idea.