Bradford Pear Salad Bowls

[Thomas Canfield]

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These 4 bowls are for gifts and meant to be used by some friends. I made them somewhat unusual without a solid rim and finished with Grapeseed Oil so that they would be used and not a display item, but easily oiled after using. The bowls are 14 1/2" to 15 1/2" D x 4" H. The bowls were green turned back in May '10 and wood was dry and hard. Sanding to 400 really produces a nice surface when oiled.

[Mike Willeson]

Very nice Thomas! Interesting rim treatment. I have turned some pear and really like it as well. Is grapeseed oil a common finish?

[Michelle Rich]

nicely turned. they are huge at 15" ..they will be used for generations.

[John Keeton]

Well done! I am interested in hearing about the grapeseed oil, as well. First time to hear that.

[Marc Himes]

Very nice set of salad bowls. I have sanded with oil at times and I agree, you can get a very nice finish.

[David E Keller]

Lovely work! Dry pear can be pretty hard, but it's still one of my favorite turning woods.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Really nice bowls and interesting rim. Pear is a great turning wood.

[Dennis Ford]

Very nice work, I really like those.

[Roger Wilson]

Nicely done; interesting take on the rim.

I too am interested in the Grape seed oil finish.
Does it dry or is it more like mineral oil.
Also where do you get it. Lots of sources from google but as with walnut oil there is the supermarket stuff then there is Mahoney's stuff.

Thanks.

[charlie knighton]

very nice, +4 or 5 on this grapeseed oil

[Roger Wilson]

Here's a link to a food forum discussing what to use on wooden cutting boards. Grape seed oil is mentioned, but that's all.

http://www.foodieforums.com/vbulletin/archive/index.php?t-6405.html&

[Thomas Canfield]

Grapeseed Oil is used a lot by the Texas Hill Country Mesquite people as a finish for Mesquite. I had first seen it used several years ago when attending the Texas Mesquite Association Show in Fredericksburg, TX and had bought a quart at the local health food store here in Tyler. I was reminded about it again at SWAT the week previous, and I wanted to finish these bowls fast since I am in the process of trying to move (when I find a house with some shop space). Grapeseed Oil seems to dry a little harder and give a little more luster than the Mahoney Walnut Oil. It is reported to not turn rancid and can be easily recoated. I wiped on a couple of heavy coats on 6 pieces over about 30 minutes and let dry for another 10 minutes, and then wiped off the excess for 2 applications about 24 hours apart using paper towels. Oil was absorbed both applications, and a third could be done. The pictures were taken about 3 hours after the second application and surface is essentially oil free. I did see my original container at the health food store last week at about $11 for quart, but then there was a larger container for only $10 so it is fairly inexpensive compared to some other finishes.

Some Mesquite finished bark edge pieces were shown at SWAT that were sanded to 600+ that had only one coat of oil but they would not be used for food and I would think that more coats would be needed for wet service.