For turned bowls that will be used in food service, toxicity is always a concern. So it was with some hope that I invited eight members of a recent bowl-turning class to help me test Mahoney’s Utility Finish Oil, a boiled walnut oil sold by professional turner Mike Mahoney (www.bowlmakerinc.com).

Unlike some vegetable oils, walnut oil eventually will polymerize to a hardened finish, and it contains no potentially harmful metallic driers.

To test the drying time of this “boiled” oil, we applied some to a cloth on a Monday morning and placed it on a concrete floor. On Friday the cloth was still supple and the oil viscous—no sign of hardening. Likewise, the oil applied to a wooden bowl seemed to have no more tendency to harden than walnut oil from the grocery store.

One bright spot was the price: At $10.99 for a 16-oz. bottle, it is cheaper than walnut oil from the grocery store. Also, the plastic squeeze bottle is handy. Mahoney also offers a custom blend of food-safe waxes mixed with walnut oil.

Ernie Conoverteaches woodworking at his school in Parkman, Ohio. Ask him a question in Ask The Experts.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Bumblechutes Bee’Nooba Wax

Ease of Use = Very good Sheen = Very good Appearance = Very good Non-Yellowing = Very good Water/Stain Resistance = Excellent

Buy at Direct

Waterlox Original

Versatile wiping varnish is easy to apply and great for both satin and gloss finishes.

Buy at Amazon

Diablo ‘SandNet’ Sanding Discs

While Diablo’s SandNet disks perform similarly to conventional paper abrasives in terms of material removal and surface prep (with some exceptions at the lower grits), they make keeping your work surface and work area clean much easier, thanks to the great dust collection possible with them.

Buy at Amazon