Muddle

[Norm Zax]

I've dug back and found no mention of muddles on the creek, perhaps not digging efficiently. A muddle is a stick, about a foot long, about an inch and a half thick, with a round end on one side and flat on the other. Any design in between is open to the imagination. The purpose of this "pestle" is to crush mint leaves when preparing the famous cuban drink - a Mojito, consisting of sugar concentrate (better if made from cane), some light rum, mint leaves, lime and soda. I'll let you folks look up commercial muddles (usually costing 15-55 usd). And on to my question:
Naturally, a close grained hard wood is recommended. Id like to make one from some ipe odd bits I have. Ipe has its own oily substance, which would be nice against food stuffs being soaed in, but is it edible?
Thanks,
Norm
simple ones: http://www.mojitocompany.com/home.php?cat=108
fancy one: http://www.foresttreasures.com/muddlers.shtml

[Mike Minto]

norm, i've made a couple of them for friends - used cherry, as i recall (what a surprise :rolleyes:). they called them 'muddlers' - same thing, i'm sure, easy project. mike

[Jim Underwood]

From one of your links:



Most other muddlers are manufactured on a lathe and resemble a rolling pin with one handle cut off. Many are not very attractive or comfortable to use.


Hey! This guy have sumptin against lathes? :mad: Sumbuddy needs to straighten that guy out... :p

[David E Keller]

I can't imagine that Ipe would be a problem unless someone had an allergy to the natural oils in the wood... I've never heard of a problem with contact or ingestion of that oil... Especially in the minute quantities that a person would be exposed to... Plus, rum is a reasonable antiseptic, right?

Here's a link to an interesting read on the safety of wood for cutting boards:
www.alladd.com/cutting_board_study.htm

Thought it was interesting