[MR] OT: Wood care question

[Kihe Blackeagle]

Based on what I am seeing in the posted photograph of the underside, I believe it is probably a fair bet that the two larger very dark / black stains on the underside are indeed motor oil (or another inedible oil).  
 
After wiping down the whole piece with a weak bleach solution (not enough liquid to stand in or on the wood, but enough to show some moisture over the entire surface), I would suggest leaving the piece in direct sunlight for at least three days on each side (top, bottom).  After that, wipe again with clear tap water.  LIGHTLY sand with progressive series of grits, starting with nothing harsher than 160 or so unless the grain has been raised more severely than I can make out in the photos.  (If using a scraper for part of this process, a square edge will typically work better than a knife edge -- but the most important bit is to try and find something a close as possible to the existing curve you are attempting to scrape.)
 
After the surface is smoothed to your satisfaction, the inside may be treated with a food grade oil applied in light coats and scraped lightly or thoroughly wiped down with a rough cloth between applications (reducing possiblity of grain raising).  The outside / non-food surfaces can be treated with any number of inedible oils, but for this specific piece I would suggest three to five applications of tung oil with a fine (000 or finer) steel wool scrubdown in between coats.  (See the tung oil container for additional information on suggested uses.)
 
As always, adjust / adapt as the work progresses!ttfn - Mike / Pax ... Kihe / Adieu, Amra Mike C. Baker / Kihe Blackeagle Opinions? I'm FULL of 'em SCA: al-Sayyid Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri al-Amra, F.O.B, OSCA "Other": Reverend Kihe Blackeagle PULC (the DreamSinger Bard) alt. e-mail: KiheBard at hotmail.com Buy my writings!: http://www.lulu.com/WizardsDen http://www.livejournal.com/users/kihebard/ > Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:04:07 -0500> From: chessler at usa.net> To: TinkerbellProxy at aol.com; atlantia at atlantia.sca.org> Subject: Re: [MR] OT: Wood care question> > Depending on how smooth you want it, keep sanding along the grain with finer> and finer sandpaper. End up with 400 grit or perhaps finer. Scraping will give> you a good finish, too, and may give a wavy effect that looks old. > > Sanding and scraping along the grain give a good surface . Across the grain> leaves scratches. Scraping should follow the rising of the grain so it> doesn't catch splinters.> > Wiping with a bleach solution should kill any germ. But it will lighten the> wood. Sanding and oiling should fix that, and exposure to sunlight. Sunlight> also kills surface germs, and there are chemicals naturally in wood that fight> germs. > > Dough troughs would have been scraped in the past, because water can damage> wood (cause splits). Also the yeast spores may be retained, possibly> developing a house taste to the bread. But commercial yeast will out-compete> wild yeast, so if you want sourdough, you'll have to use a starter (of which> there are several styles).> > > > --> > YIS> > Davitt il Bigollo da Pisa> Erudit de l'Academie de Espee de Atlantia> Storvik (rapier)> Roxbury Mill (other things) > > ------ Original Message ------> Received: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:45:10 PM EST> From: TinkerbellProxy at aol.com> To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org> Subject: Re: [MR] OT: Wood care question> > > > > Thank you everyone for so many wonderful answers! I'm hoping that just > > washing the bowl will bring it back but I'm uploading some images now so > that > > those interested can look it over. I was told the dings and scratches were> on > > it when it was last seen or displayed, but the black parts didn't exist. > I'm > > not sure if it's mold, engine oil (it shared a shelf with parts!) or it> could > > be from rodent urine. It is even possible the black bits are from having > > been burned. The shed in question had a short infestation years ago but> the > > wooden bowl would really attract their attention. Inside is very battered> as > > I've been told it was never oiled but cleaned by scrapping with a metal> spoon, > > so the bottom inside is very rugged.> > > > I'm afraid I was a little eager last night and sanded the outside of the > > bowl with a fine grit. It has a wonderful grain and is almost perfectly > smooth > > already, with just a light sanding. Since I did this you can no longer > > really see all the scratches that were on the outside but it looked like> some > > strange cat had went at it. I did some clarifying on the age and it is only> known > > for sure that it is over 70 years old, as her eldest child remembers it > > being used.> > > > Here's the link to the images:> > > > _http://s554.photobucket.com/albums/jj427/kratsina/wooden%20bread%20bowl/_ > > (http://s554.photobucket.com/albums/jj427/kratsina/wooden%20bread%20bowl/) > > > > Any thoughts on the black spots? Or wood type? I really appreciate all > > the suggestions!> > > > T> > > > > > **************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, > > Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now. > >> (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)> > ========================================================================> > The Merry Rose Tavern at Cheapside> > List Info: http://merryrose.atlantia.sca.org/> > Submissions: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org> > Subscriptions: http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/mailman/listinfo/atlantia> > > > > > ========================================================================> The Merry Rose Tavern at Cheapside> List Info: http://merryrose.atlantia.sca.org/> Submissions: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org> Subscriptions: http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/mailman/listinfo/atlantia
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