Wood Bowl Finishes

I use a wide range of finishes on my woodturning pieces ​including Tried and True Finishes, Mohawk Salad Bowl Finish, Mahoney's Walnut Oil, General Finish Wood Bowl Finish, General Finish Butchers Block Finish, Carnauba Wax, Hut Crystal Coat and others. Each is chosen based on the function and aesthetics required. Clicking on the underlined product will take you to that companies product site for more information.

I use primarily food contact safe finishes on my bowls, but for highly decorative bowls intended for art display I may use a finish where the manufacturer does not indicate the product is food contact safe. An example of that is General Finish Wood Bowl Finish. Tried and True finishes are food contact safe, as are bowls finished with Walnut Oil, Butchers block Oil (mineral oil) and Mohawk Salad Bowl Finish. Those finished with pure Carnauba wax are food contact safe, but not as hard wearing as the other finishes.

For most of my ornaments I mostly use a sanding sealer followed by buffing and a friction application of Carnauba wax. Sometimes I use Hut Crystal Coat where it would otherwise be difficult to friction apply Carnauba wax.

Maintaining your bowl

For oil based finishes like Tried and True, Walnut Oil, General Finish Butchers Block Finish or other penetrating oil finishes it is fairly easy to repair scratches, nicks, or water marks. Just use 0000 grade steel wool to buff out as much of the affected area as possible, then use a lint-free cloth to apply a small amount of the original finish following the manufacturer's instructions. The link below will take you to a merchant I found online who supplies the small bottles of Tried and True Original which should last for years if stored well.

For the film based finishes such as Mohawk Salad Bowl Finish (as used on the Hickory bowl above) you must take great care to not damage the surface. Only use wooden utensils if you are using the bowl to serve food. Repairing these bowls can be difficult and may require a complete re-application of the finish.

Carnauba waxed bowls or other items finished in this way are best refinished with pure Carnauba wax using a friction/buffing wheel. Alternatively, you can use carnauba-based paste waxes, but please ensure that the product you choose is food contact safe if you are using the item for storing or serving food.

Cleaning your bowl

If you are using your bowl to serve food, then the best way to clean your bowl is to carefully hand wash after each use in warm water using mild soap then dry immediately with a clean towel and leave to air dry after that. Do not immerse your bowl in water for longer than necessary.

Do not put your wooden bowl in a dishwasher or in a microwave oven.