Carved a nice spoon out of red cedar and

[Farmall]

now want to put a finish on it that is kitchen safe as I plan on giving it to someone that will be using it as a coffee scoop. What would be the best type of clear finish or oil to use?

[Nomad]

I use mineral oil for most of my spoons. I picked up some stuff called Butcher Block Conditioner that's supposed to be good but I haven't tried it yet. It's a mix of mineral oil and waxes. With the waxes though, it should give a nice sheen when you buff it.

Some folks swear by raw linseed oil which I think is the same as flaxseed oil.

[Claude]

Since it's going to be a coffee scoop and you're not getting it wet or cooking with it, I'd suggest a couple of coats of thinned Minwax polyurethane varnish. Oils and waxes will tend to make the coffee grains stick to the spoon, but a cured varnish should not.

Claude

[chuckbolton]

id sure want to seal it with something-- id think the oils in cedar would have a negative taste to them-- please advise-- i have lots of cedar to work with

[Nomad]

Using spoons have a tendency to dry out even after oiling and even on the harder woods like maple. Mineral oil is tasteless and won't spoil. It's food safe.

This is the coffee spoon I use every day. It's about 3 years old, carved out of mahogany.

[Ron T]

Hi Nomaad,

Nice, simple coffee spoon and nice mug, too.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Ron T

Hi Nomaad,

Nice, simple coffee spoon and nice mug, too.

Simple is my middle name. Thanks!

[Dicky]

Count me in with RonT. The mug is really cool.

[scooter]

William-Sonoma sells a paste mixture of 1/2 mineral oil and 1/2 beeswax. Rub it into the wood, let it cure for a day (may have to repeat), then buff it to a warm sheen. This has worked for me.

S~

[wildhare]

Cool spoon and mug! What did you do to get your photo so large instead of the thumbnail ones we usually see?
Thanks Wanda