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Natural wood sealant???


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Viewing 23 posts - 1 through 23 (of 23 total)
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  • #1233720
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    I just finished carving a spork out of red oak. (If anyone cares, I'll post a pic after I seal it)
    Any recommendations for a natural oil/sealant that would be good on an eating utensil?

    Thanks.

    #1474486
    Jason Shaffer
    Member

    @pa_jay

    Locale: on the move....

    Cool project. I've used mineral oil, and 'butchers block oil' (similar). Both work well.

    Time to cook up some Dick Proenneke style peppery ram stew…

    #1474490
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    Great idea!

    Mineral oil is the accepted "food safe" oil used on utensils and butcher blocks.

    I bought a small wooden spoon in a kitchen store that is light and fun– there's something earthy and nostalgic about wooden utensils.

    Don't forget chopsticks. The *only* way to eat ramen on the trail and not bad for stirring in a small pot. Emergency dry tinder for a fire too.

    #1474500
    Jeremy Greene
    Spectator

    @tippymcstagger

    Locale: North Texas

    "mineral oil, and 'butchers block oil' (similar). Both work well."

    It is worth noting that mineral oil is available in any pharmacy and at a far better price. Look at butchers block oil and read the ingredient.

    #1474505
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    Mineral oil? We must have a difference in meanings here. To me, 'mineral oil' means the same as motor car oil! Perhaps you mean something like vegetable oil or paraffin oil?

    Cheers

    #1474514
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    Thanks for the advice everyone.
    I've never heard of mineral oil for this purpose.

    I have used olive oil and then baked a piece to dry it/burn off excess- the result was good, but it was for a carving/sculptural piece and I wasn't sure how well it would do for food.

    Yes, chopsticks are great Dale!
    I already have some that I've carved out of walnut- I'm a pretty hardcore noodle eater, definitely a must.

    My wife has been laughing at me all morning- carving away, sanding my little spork….(she's used to me spending hours on this sort of nonsense, I'm an artist).
    I'm really into the idea of making as much of my own gear as is possible for right now- the spork has been fun.
    I want lathe a really light wooden bowl to nest inside my cookpot as well. I've been thinking quite a bit about the lack of art and personality in backpacking gear- I understand the pragmatism behind it (weight/mass production), but I'm getting tired of all the name brand, generic stuff I have; I'm looking to create a more unique/artistic kit.

    #1474516
    Al V
    BPL Member

    @sparkman

    Locale: The Great White North, eh!

    Hi Craig,

    Another option is a shellac based finish like Behlen Salad Bowl Finish.

    Cheers
    Al

    PS Love to see a pic of the finished spork!

    #1474610
    Daren Neufeld
    Member

    @darenn

    i'd love to see the finished product as i've been thinking about the same project for a while now.
    another option for finishing:

    http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=45105&cat=1,190,42942

    Daren……….

    #1474633
    Mark Edgren
    Member

    @mackgren

    Below is a link from the US department of Ag. on acceptable and edible sealants for wood utensils. They also recommend mineral oil, as well as olive and peanut oils. Cheers, Mark

    http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/finlines/knaeb98c.pdf

    #1474662
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    Damn, we are a bunch of nerds…

    Anyhow, thanks for all the info folks.
    Here are a couple pictures of it sealed with mineral oil I picked up today at Rite Aid. Joy!!! $5 got me enough for at least 150 more sporks and 600 chopsticks.
    It weighs .6 oz, that's .1 oz less than the Snowpeak Ti spork.
    1
    2
    3

    I'd really like to use bamboo, just don't have any stock that's thick enough.

    #1474665
    Brian Barnes
    BPL Member

    @brianjbarnes

    Locale: Midwest

    Nice work Craig! It also has dual use if you pack a bushbuddy! ;)

    #1474821
    Mary D
    BPL Member

    @hikinggranny

    Locale: Gateway to Columbia River Gorge

    Beautiful piece of work!

    Judging from the quality of your spork, you might have a second career ahead! Had you thought of a salad bowl and server set for home? They would make beautiful gifts, and I'm sure would reconcile your wife to your hobby!

    #1474825
    Steven Evans
    BPL Member

    @steve_evans

    Locale: Canada

    Craig, that's some nice work my friend!

    My Ti folding spork weighs 0.65 oz, lacks character, and was probably made by a child worker…keep on carving!

    #1474826
    Tad Englund
    BPL Member

    @bestbuilder

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    Contact this Paint store Daly's , they specialize in all kinds of odd finishes.
    I use their product for wood serving trays- they can get you the best for your needs.

    #1474865
    Greg Mihalik
    Spectator

    @greg23

    Locale: Colorado

    Craig,
    You lamented the lack of a bamboo source. Well it's closer than you think. Hustle over to Wally World or your local kitchen store an look for 'bamboo mixing spoons'. I got a two 'blank' package for $9.

    This is a quick and dirty practice piece weighing 0.49 ounces and is so much nicer than eating off of Ti (and 0.52 ounces).
    Bamboo Spoon

    Thanks for the inspiration.

    #1475074
    Greg Mihalik
    Spectator

    @greg23

    Locale: Colorado

    Round 2 –

    Bamboo Spoon 2

    #1475145
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    Nice.
    I've always liked the look/feel of bamboo utensils and bowls.

    #1475154
    Brian UL
    Member

    @maynard76

    Locale: New England

    i dont know how I missed this thread? I also like bamboo utensils, they feel so much nicer on my teeth. I bought a package of bamboo spoons at Wally world or was it ebay?, Its just that I like the long handle on my Ti spoon and my bamboo spoon weights a fraction more. Cant decide which one to take sometimes.

    #1475157
    Greg Mihalik
    Spectator

    @greg23

    Locale: Colorado

    Brian,
    My second attempt above comes in at 0.47 ounces and is the same length as a long handled Ti spoon.

    With a little shaping and sanding you could lose some weight.

    #1475158
    Brian UL
    Member

    @maynard76

    Locale: New England

    Worth a second look at Wally's. Thanks

    #1475159
    Unknown abc
    Member

    @edude

    WOW, Craig!

    I LOVE your spork!!!

    Cheers

    #1475626
    Dave .
    BPL Member

    @ramapo

    Hey Craig,

    Thought you might like this:

    http://www.jonsbushcraft.com/Kuksa%20tutorial.htm

    Also, this site sell the mora carving knives at a pretty good price. I think it's probably tough to hollow out a mug without some specialized knives.

    Been thinking about getting into this stuff myself.

    #1475639
    Dan Yeruski
    BPL Member

    @zelph

    Locale: www.bplite.com

    (Any recommendations for a natural oil/sealant that would be good on an eating utensil?)

    Use the oil from the jojoba plant that grows in our western states. It's readily available in health food stores.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jojoba_oil

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