With proper care, your finely crafted wood products will last a lifetime:

DO:

• Hand wash with warm soapy water after each use.

• Immediately after washing, hand dry with a clean cloth.

DO NOT:

• Do not put in the dishwasher, microwave, or oven.

• Do not leave in standing water. Do not use to hold liquids. 

• Do not use vegetable oils to recondition your wood product; they contain ingredients that may create a culture for bacteria to grow.  Use mineral oil instead. 

• Do not leave wood products in direct sunlight for long periods of time.

How do I care for items finished with mineral oil and beeswax (salad bowls and cutting boards)?

With proper care, your finely crafted wood products will last a lifetime:

• Wash in warm, soapy water using a mild dish soap. Towel dry promptly.

• Do not put in the dishwasher, microwave, or oven.

• Refresh periodically with a light coat of mineral oil and beeswax such as Howards Butcher Block Conditioner.  Let absorb into the wood for 5 -20 minutes or so and gently rub off the excess using a lint free cloth.

• Do not use vegetable oil (it can go rancid).

• Remove stains by applying salt to the stain and rub with a cut lemon or lime using a damp sponge -

• Deep clean and disinfect using a 50-50 solution of water and white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) using a clean cloth. Let stand for 5 minutes. Wash and towel dry. Then refresh with mineral oil and beeswax.

• Do not leave wood products in direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Years of regular use and proper care, wooden bowls and cutting boards will achieve a beautiful patina. The small nicks and scratches that accumulate will add character and remind you of all the great meals you’ve had with your wooden bowl.

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Are your finishes safe for food contact?

I am a woodworker and not a food chemist; however, I did a lot of research on this subject.  I read a lot of articles in woodworking magazines and websites.  And I reviewed FDA regulations. I found mineral oil, beeswax and carnauba wax are safe of food contact.  Polyurethane (a type of varnish) is also safe for food contact once it is fully cured. Specific FDA regulations I found useful are: 21CFR175.300, 21CFR177.1680. 21CFR582.1973 and 21CFR582.1978

How do you make segmented bowls?

The process starts by finding interesting wood then cutting the wood into many trapezoid shape segments (2” to 3” long, 1” wide and 1” or so tall).  The segments must be cut with great accuracy.  They are glued into rings then the rings are glued to make a bowl.  The bowl is then mounted on a lathe and turned to a smooth, circular form. It is a time consuming process, but I enjoy it and find it very rewarding.  I then sand the bowl silky smooth and finish with either beeswax and mineral oil or polyurethane.