Waxes.

Many of the artistic wooden vessels, not intended for use with food, have a wax finish that highlights and protects the wood, but is not food-safe. Polished wax gives a hard, clear, high-sheen luster to the wood.

Wax penetrates the wood and hardens, and should not require maintenance other than occasional polishing with a soft cloth to brighten the sheen and remove fingerprints. Wax can be reapplied, but will take some effort to repolish.

Never use soap and water to clean a wooden vessel, no matter the finish.

The wax used is Briwax, Renaissance Wax, or Beall Buff and Wax.

Briwax – a solvent-based blend of beeswax and carnauba wax.

Renaissance Wax – a microcrystalline wax refined from crude oil.

Beall Buff and Wax – a system using Tripoli (powdered stone and a binder) and White Diamond (tin oxide and a binding wax) for buffing, followed by application of carnauba wax. Carnauba wax is derived from the carnauba palm tree.

Oils.

All of the functional wooden vessels that could be used with food, and many of the artistic turnings, have a food-safe, non-toxic, plant-based oil finish. Plant-based oil gives a soft, satin luster to the wood.

Oil penetrates the wood and hardens, but the finish can be replenished easily, any time, with simple reapplication of the oil with a soft cloth. Clean wooden vessels that have plant-based oil finishes with a soft, dry cloth, or the same type of oil.

Never use soap and water to clean a wooden vessel, no matter the finish.

The oil used is coconut oil, walnut oil, or Mahoney’s Utility Finish Oil.

coconut oil and walnut oil – 100% organic, food-grade oil straight from the grocery-store shelves. Coconut oil gives a light luster, adding no color to the wood. Walnut oil has a more yellowing effect, imparting a warmer glow to the wood.

Mahoney’s Utility Finish Oil – heat-treated, 100% high linoleic acid walnut oil, with a long shelf life, that penetrates deeply into the wood and dries fast. It is food-safe and durable, perfect for a functional wooden vessel used in the kitchen.