finish clarification

[Dave Fritz]

In lookiing at Mike Mahoneys site I see he has directions for the care of his bowls:

"This bowl is a great kitchen utensil, used to serve food. After use simply hand wash with warm water and mild soap, then let air dry. Please do not soak it in water or put it into the dishwasher or the microwave. Occasionally recondition with walnut or mineral oil. With proper care, this bowl will last for generations."

Does this only apply when you use an oil finish?

How do you take care of a lacquer or poly finish? Would adding oil at a later date hurt anything?

Thanks,

Dave F.

 

[KellyDunn]

Dave, if you are not going for a built up finish but one that basicly is in the wood pores then using mineral oil later is just fine. I use a thinned down poly and buff back to the wood. I went over to this system from just using mineral oil maybe 15 years ago. When I get a bowl back for repair that was mineral oil it looks horrible. If it is really dry I refinish with my poly system. If oily its hard to repair and all I can do is give it a buff. If my poly mix and it has not been slathered in mineral oil it looks good and repairs well. If you build up a finish it will break down with time(epoxy being the exception I am told). Cracks will open letting water and salad oils to the wood. It will then begin to breakdown the finish and turn it to a sticky black mess. It wont happen overnight. But it will happen. Unlike Mike I suggest you dry the bowl after washing. Also his walnut oil is special. He boils his oil so it will polymerise. He went through a lot to get his product to work. I know of no one who has used his oil and not liked the result.