Wood for kitchen utensils
 

I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and was
wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of pecan
or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.

thanks in advance.

Pecan sure is hard and durable.

Ghodges2 wrote:
Pecan sure is hard and durable.

It is and they have a few good priced pecan blanks (24" x 2" x 2" for $7) at
the local Rockler. Just was looking for a lighter wood that would hold up
to the rigors of cooking. I had some olive wood utensils a long time ago.
They we're beautiful but can't seem to find a good supplier for Olive wood.

Creamy Goodness wrote:

I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and was
wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of pecan
or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.

thanks in advance.




I have made some tables/chairs for the grandkids out of hard maple with
the top out of birds-eye maple. I used a lot of the scraps to make
spoons and spatulas and they are several years old and holding up fine.
When they are used and get a little moisture on them the birds-eye and
the fiddle back comes out and is kinda neat.

Hard Maple is a good wood for kitchen utensils and cutting boards. It is
the only wood that is approved by FDA for use in cutting boards because of
its tight grain and smooth surface. Porous woods are not good for
food-contact surfaces because the pores can harbor bacteria and are
difficult to clean.

Barry


"Creamy Goodness" creamy at agbgaming dot com wrote in message
news:f0a57$4147295e$41a9ca42$11008@allthenewsgroup s.com...
I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and
was
wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of
pecan
or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.

thanks in advance.

In article m, "Creamy Goodness" creamy at agbgaming dot com wrote:
I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and was
wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of pecan
or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.

Beech or sugar maple.

In article m, Creamy
Goodness wrote:

I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and was
wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of pecan
or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.

thanks in advance.


Beech is traditional. Has no flavor, and flexes slightly.
-j

As others have mentioned - pecan too porous, walnut has a taste of its own,
though I wouldn't worry too much about it. I make and sell a few hundred
pieces out of cherry every year. Easy to work with, handsome, and the
heartwood resists mildew even if left immersed accidentally. Maple has a
tendency toward black mildew if left immersed, but if you oil the daylights
out of it - two or more of walnut oil my recommendation, it will stand up to
casual water and stains reasonably well. Since I carve my stuff more than
turn, I don't use beech. Crumbly, only the heartwood seems to resist stain,
and there just isn't that much in proportion in our American stuff.

One other which I recommend for durability and grunge shedding is tamarack,
which is so loaded with resin that a quick set in the micro is all you
need - no oil. Pain in the rump to carve, because fifteen careful minutes
can go to waste as you sand into a pitch pocket. Frustrating.

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
m...
In article m, "Creamy
Goodness" creamy at agbgaming dot com wrote:
I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and
was
wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of
pecan
or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.

Beech or sugar maple.

I've made a set of wooden spoons from apple. I got this wood from a
neighbor who chopped it down and offered me the knarled twisted wood.
After drying it for three years I started making various small items
from it. It is very strong and seems to hold up well. If you visit a
kitchen store you'll find utensils made from a variety of woods. I
know olive wood is often used.

Eastern Maple aka Rock Maple aka sugar maple (as in the tree that maple
suyrp comes from), totally food safe.

Pat in Greenacres, WA

"Creamy Goodness" creamy at agbgaming dot com wrote in message
news:f0a57$4147295e$41a9ca42$11008@allthenewsgroup s.com...
I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and
was
wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of
pecan
or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.

thanks in advance.

I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and
was
wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of
pecan
or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.

Beech or sugar maple.

The original posting is no longer on the server, so I'll reply here. Besides
these two woods one very important 'treen' wood is American Sycamore. This
wood is a favorite for wooden spoons. Sycamore can withstand repeated
immersion in water, even boiling water, without checking when it dries. Dan

Hi Dan

Yes I think sycamore behaves a lot like beech and it is stronger, I had
be thinking that maybe black and honey locust and also acacia would be
good but I have never used it for kitchen utensils for the thought that
they might start checking after some use, you ever tried them?.
Also hornbeam and hop hornbeam how do they stand up to the repeated
water and drying cycles, there are a lot of woods that do not fare well
under those circumstances, even though one would think they might be
excellent for such use.

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo


Dan Bollinger wrote:

I'm going to be turning some kitchen utensils for Christmas presents and

was

wondering what makes good and durable wood for this. I've thought of

pecan

or walnut but was also wanting a few other types.


Beech or sugar maple.


The original posting is no longer on the server, so I'll reply here. Besides
these two woods one very important 'treen' wood is American Sycamore. This
wood is a favorite for wooden spoons. Sycamore can withstand repeated
immersion in water, even boiling water, without checking when it dries. Dan

There are many "safe" woods for utensils. You can get some good ideas
from visiting kitchen stores. I've seen spoons made from olive wood.
I made a set of spoons from apple wood and these are holding up very
well.