Actually all oils polymerize eventually and become hard. However, the reaction is fast in the drying oils (a matter of days or weeks) and is very slow in the non-drying oils (years to decades or even longer).

The drying oils I know are linseed oil, tung oil and walnut oil. All are natural products made by plants. Drying oils polymerize and become hard and dry rather quickly. None of them will become rancid. Linseed oil, because of its variable drying time usually has other chemicals added to make it dry reliably. Watco Danish oil is such a linseed oil based product. Others may have solvents added to them to make them penetrate better. My understanding is that all of these oils when dry (when the solvents have evaporated completely) are food safe. Of the three drying oils, tung oil may have the most resistance to solvents like water and alcohol. I use tung oil for my treen ware if I use a drying oil. You can buy walnut oil, tung oil and linseed oil which are sold as being food safe.

There are many non-drying oils. Mineral oil is one you mentioned. Most of the other vegetable oils are non-drying. I used to use mineral oil but stopped because it is a petroleum product and is non-renewable. Of the non-drying oils for treen ware, sesame oil is my favorite. It has the longest shelf life of all the vegetable oils and thus does not get rancid.

So, it is a matter of choice. Drying oils and non-drying oils can be renewed when the surface begins to whiten with repeated use and washings. I have used both with good success. As I sell treen ware at shows I have come to prefer a drying oil as it does not bleed on to table cloths and storage boxes. Right now tung oil is my favorite but that could change. I have not used walnut oil. Let me know how you like it.

Sincerely,
Edwards Smith

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for your comments. My son did the photography. He is skilled in photojournalism (www.toddsmithphotography.com. He patiently shoots as I work.

I think that Norman Stevens has made a great contribution in documenting spoon making. One of my spoons is in his collection. It turns out that this blog entry on spoon making has been my most popular one. I think people can relate to it as it is something anyone can do.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Pattern making used to be a very important trade in the earlier days of the industrial revolution. It required great skill and precision. Models were made in wood and then used to make sand molds for receiving molten metal for gears and every sort of thing. One of my favorite sets of tools is a set of three pattern maker’s spoke shaves of brass, each with a different kind of sole. I used them for years in my wooden spoons.

It is really nice to have your feedback. I write these blogs to share what I know and when it inspires others, it makes me feel good. I am very thankful for the internet which allows me to share information with people all over the globe.

Sincerely
Edwards Smith

Cheers
Jon

So, I can make you any kind of spoon you want. My small spoons are $18 and the large ones are $20. Special woods like olive I add two dollars to the price. My minimum order is $30 and shipping is extra but close to what it costs me. Spoons are pretty light and the shipping is not terribly expensive yet.

Since I like to think I am all possibilities, you need to give me some preference for shapes and wood species. Anything that is like the ones pictured on the site would be for the prices mentioned above. If it is more elaborate or larger in size I would charge proportionately.

My spoons are not for looking but for use. This is why my spoon design has evolved the way you see on my web page. I don’t like skinny handles that will break. I don’t like very deep spoon bowls because the edges chip. I can make them any way you want but I prefer to make one that will give many many decades of service and perhaps be passed on to the next generation.

My summer is taken up with travel and the first time I will have to put attention on any special order will be September. However, I enjoy making exactly what someone really wants. Please let me know how I can help you.
Sincerely,
Edwards Smith

I have spoons in stock or can make them up in a wood you prefer. My spoons are $20 and are signed, dated and the wood from which they are made is specified. The size may vary and you can specify your preference. The small spatulas (see them in the website in the Treenware section) are $12, medium $13 and large $14. There is a minimum order of $40. Add 10% for shipping and handling. I accept payment by personal check only. When your check clears I will ship you the spoons, etc.

Sincerely yours,
Edwards Smith