Utility Bowl Finish for Wood Turners - Tip of the Week

I explain what I use for a utility bowl finish and options in this turning tip of the week.

I upload a new wood turning tip every Tuesday and a wood turning tutorial video each and every Friday so Ya’ll come back, hear?

[ericaandloujacobs]

Mike,
Thanks for another terrific, practical video! We've got a bunch of wood salad bowls that we use at the table. Generally the bowls we eat and serve from I treat with either walnut oil or mineral oil. I refresh them periodically, but as you said, no finish is probably just fine. Salad bowls actually get refreshed through use with a coating of olive oil or whatever salad dressing we use.
BTW, thanks for the tip some time ago about replacement lever knobs (I forget exactly what they are called) for the lathe banjo and tail stock. I've got a Grizzly lathe that came with pretty poor castings. I improvised but it was less than perfect. After seeing your video I ordered replacements from Rockler. I had to tap new threads into the tool rest support, but it is working just great!
Lou

[davidkuhns]

I also use a small wooden spoon I carved from Bradford Pear. Wood on wood sounds even better than the metal spoon. As an added plus: that wooden spoon was the spoon used when both of my grandchildren ate their first solid food. There's nothing like using implements you have made yourself. As you say, no finish at all works just fine.

[jimrobb]

Love your cereal bowl Mike. Sandra and I use wooden bowls, plates and spoons all the time. Finish? One coat of pure Tung oil allowed to cure when I made them and nothing since. All are years old now but still in daily use. Like you we just wash in soapy water, towel dry and leave aside to fully dry on top of kitchen towel.

[rayevans]

Mike. You use Antique Oil finish or walnut oil on bowls. Since these oil finishes penetrates the wood’s surface is there any need to use a sanding sealer first? Would. You consider the carnuba wax used in the Beale buffing system food safe?

[johnwachter]

Mike, is all wood good for food bowls? Thanks for the tips and keep them coming. I a renewed wood turner and look forward for the tips and videos.

[thomasckuzia]

Hi Mike,
Good subject!
Are there different types of walnut oil or is it all the same?
Thanks for the video!
Tom

[williamshaffer]

Walnut oil and beeswax blend works great and the finish last a long time. Examples on my instagram page

[robertmiller-jones]

Hi Mike, how long should I wait after applying a walnut oil finish before buffing? TIA

[ralphdelaney]

Mahoney's oil is good, but what about linseed oil? What are the advantages of walnut oil versus linseed oil?

[gilgrace]

What?! You eat out of finished wooden bowls? No horrible deadly disease yet? LOL! I agree that most any finish is food safe, when cured. I would, however stay away from a finish that might flake off into your food. Like most of the other comments, I prefer oil finishes over film types. Interesting video Mike. Thanks for posting.

[moodyharvey]

So are you going to talk about beeswax, mineral oil and carnuba wax? Might as well get it over with and done! PLease!

[michaelthomas]

I use butcher block oil for my small bowels. We use them for chips and snacks for the kids. Anyone use that?

[garymccoy]

Thanks Mike. Not to open an old “can of worms”, but do you subscribe to the notion that all modern finishers are food safe if left to fully cure?