Newbie balls up?

[Kryten]

I'm completely new to woodworking, so please bear with me. I have an old beech tree in chunks that was cut down about 3 years ago. I would like to make a few things with it and I thought as a test I would take a small piece about 9 x 5" and make a cheeseboard. What should I have finished it with once sanded? And have I made a mistake and ruined it as a cheeseboard because I treated it with Walnut oil first? Being very dry it soaked in very quickly. Thanks for any advice gents.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It's the wrong choice of timber for a cheeseboard, as it would be unhygienic. It would possibly be ok for presentation alone, though - you'd have to treat it with polyurethane, plastic, or maybe osmo - something waterproof, and not cut on it. As you've seen, anything moist will just soak into it. Non spalted beech would be fine.

 

[Kryten]

Thanks Phil. I doubt whether any treatment will stick to it, as it's been liberally rubbed with Walnut Oil. The chunks I have are too small to plank, so this piece about 3/4" think was cut with a chainsaw, then belt sanded. I've just bought a bandsaw, table saw and wood lathe + tools, so I'll look at making things other than cheeseboards. Thanks for reply.

 

[Kalimna]

A slight addition to Phil.p's post. Had it been kiln dried, the spalting would have been ok, but having been air dried, the fungal colonies giving the 'watermark' pattern could still in theory release viable spores. Kiln drying should prevent them from doing so. For a suitable finish (for suitable timber), plain foodgrade mineral oil is your best bet, sold under the label 'food safe finish'. There are those who would argue that no finish is necessary at all, but I certainly prefer the deeper hues of oil to plain. Olive oil, frequently recommended, is perhaps best avoided as it doesn't fully 'cure' and can have a tendency to go rancid. Not sure about walnut, but I seem to recall it as being ok.

Cheers,
Adam

 

[Kryten]

Thank you Adam - very helpful. I'll use the timber for bowls, tool handles, boxes etc...then. Thanks again.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Bowls. Spalted beech. Oh yes

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I believe walnut oil is one of the only veg or nut oils that polymerize.

 

[joethedrummer]

That wood grain is fantastic,,and some people say "it"s only wood" Oh Yeah?

 

[Kryten]

Thank you Bob. Sorry Phil - polymerize?? As in seal the wood do you mean?

 

[Jacob]

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I doubt the fungus is at all toxic - they worry a lot on here! Just use it as a cheese board and see how it lasts. If it's soft probably not very long! Then bung it in the fire.
Basically you need to get stuck in and not worry about being "correct" etc. etc.
Be prepared to make a lot of balls ups and waste a lot of wood, it's the only way to learn.
NB olive oil is perfectly OK. I have a 30 year old elm salad bowl which is regularly doused in olive oil. It smells a bit garlicky sometimes but we haven't died of food poisoning yet.

PS wall nut oil is expensive and wasted as a wood treatment. Linseed is fine but a bit smelly until it has gone off. But most food boards don't have any treatment applied.

 

[Kryten]

Thanks Jacob - getting stuck in is right up my alley.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Jacob - I wasn't thinking of the wood being in any way toxic, just worried that being soft and very porous it would absorb anything wet or sweaty that was put on it, which wouldn't be very hygienic.

 

[Kalimna]

The fungal spores present in spalting may very well be toxic. And unless someone who is knowledgable enough to tell me otherwise (a mycologist or microbiologist specialisising in fungal infections), then I stand by that. Fungal spores are amongst the most insidious of infective elements, and fungal infections amongst the most difficult to treat.
A flippant remark along the lines of "I doubt the fungus is at all toxic" is not helpful.
Not all fungi are toxic, but some are, and some of the most potent anti-biological compounds are derived from fungi.


Adam

 

[Jacob]

:lol:
Spaltered wood has been very fashionable for a long time. If it was hazardous I think we would all know by now!

 

[Kalimna]

People smoked tobacco for a long time before they realised what a killer it is. Try not to be so obtuse. I am not saying that spalted wood is definitely dangerous, merely that it has the potential to be, unless treated appropriately.

Adam

 

[Kryten]

Blimey - more research for me maybe?

 

[Jacob]

People smoked tobacco for a long time before they realised what a killer it is. Try not to be so obtuse. I am not saying that spalted wood is definitely dangerous, merely that it has the potential to be, unless treated appropriately.

Adam

Many things have the potential to be dangerous but there are usually clues, otherwise it wouldn't be possible to go anywhere without a micro-biologist! Do wood turners die young?

 

[Jacob]

Blimey - more research for me maybe?

Just drop in on your nearest mycologist or microbiologist specialisising in fungal infections. Better safe than sorry. :roll:

 

[monkeybiter]

Kryten that certainly is a lovely piece of wood, worth making the most of. The physical characteristics of all the spalted beech I've come across would lend it's self best to a decorative use.

 

[Kalimna]

Jacob, and I really shouldnt rise to this, but more people would take you, your experience, and your sometimes very good advice seriously if you weren't such a pillock on occasion. I am trying to offer sensible advice to someone regarding a potential health risk and you belittle and laugh it off like a playground bully. I could list many, many things that people did/used for a long time that are now realised to be major health concerns. Lead in pipes/paint/fuel, asbestos. Sun exposure. Dust exposure. Alcohol. And that's just a start. Just because people did something in the past does not mean it is a good or healthy thing to do. Traditions only exist because something better or safer has yet to come along.

To Kryten - I am attempting to offer you reasonable advice, and I apologise to you if I may have led to this threads derailment. Spalted beech is a lovely timber and you should not avoid using it. But to have it in frequent contact with moist food (eg cheese) might not be the best course. Google it, collate the evidence and use your own judgment.
And don't forget to post pictures of the finished article, whatever it may be.
Oh, and if you find that it is too soft, you might be able to wick thin superglue to toughen it up.

Cheers,
Adam