Thread: Teak Wood Shaving Bowl Care

I have a nice teak wood shaving soap bowl that I purchased from The Art of Shaving. I really like it but, after months of use, there are places on the bowl where contact with water and soap are starting to dry it out. What can I do to maintain this bowl? Would a light coat of mineral oil work? TIA

I would suggest using a coating on mineral oil. Let is sit for a while and wipe out any residue. I do this for the wood bowls I have around the house as well as my wood cutting boards a couple of times a year. You should probably do this about once a month as you are using it to work up a lather and the soap will eventually leach out the oil.

Good luck

You can buy Teak Oil from hardware/building supplies stores. I'm guessing Teak Oil comes from Teak Wood and would be the best thing to use.

I have been very pleased with all the Watco products:
Buy WATCO Teak Oil, Oils - Woodcraft.com
Behlen is good too:
Buy BEHLEN Teak Oil, BEHLEN Teak Oil, Oils - Woodcraft.com

Not sure if I would use teak oil on a shaving bowl for a face application. I have used Watco products and like them a lot for marine applications. Teak oil is not made from teak, it can be hundreds of different mixtures of oils, varnishes, etc. pending on name brand. With this bowls function being used on your face I would lean toward an oil you would put on your face or at least an oil you wouldn't mind eating. An olive oil or vegetable oil comes to mind.
No scholar here, just thinking.
Rick

I just realized the other day that Johnson's Baby Oil is mineral oil. So, if it's safe enough to use on babys, it should be okay. I hadn't thought about olive or vegetable oil, though.

Do not use Vegetable or olive oils, they decompose over time and become smelly/sticky, use a salad bowl finish or butchers block conditioners.

I forgot Teak Oil would be a mixture of things to make it a varnish. Can't think straight when I'm tired. I would use Baby Oil or Olive Oil.

Originally Posted by Neo

I have a nice teak wood shaving soap bowl that I purchased from The Art of Shaving. I really like it but, after months of use, there are places on the bowl where contact with water and soap are starting to dry it out. What can I do to maintain this bowl? Would a light coat of mineral oil work? TIA

An old wood sealing standby is beeswax (or a 50/50 beeswax & mineral oil mixture).

David

Originally Posted by 1863Navy

An old wood sealing standby is beeswax (or a 50/50 beeswax & mineral oil mixture).

David

That's what I'd use.