These wooden bowls are carefully crafted to last a lifetime and, indeed, to be passed to the next generation.

I take the extra step in their creation of "raising the grain." Once sanded almost to final finish I wet them with water. This swells the fibers. When dry the bowl is resanded to "knock the grain down" again. After this the grain shouldn't "raise" again under normal use. The bowl is then finished with Walnut Oil and Bee's wax. This provides a food-safe, durable, easily renewable finish. One can substitute mineral, Butcher Block Oil, Pure Linseed or Tung Oil for the Walnut oil.

Care is simple. Once or twice a year or when the wood surface begins to look dry, simply apply a liberal coat of Walnut Oil. Let it soak in and then wipe off any excess. You can't put on too much, but don't let a pool of oil dry on the surface. Let it dry overnight and then I like to apply a coat of a Walnut Oil - Bee's Wax mixture. Let it dry for a while and then buff with a soft cloth. This adds a nice, soft sheen to your bowl.

These products are available at www.bowlmakerinc.com and at www.woodturnerscatalog.com

Should the bowl get so wet that the grain swells again it can be smoothed by a light sanding with 320 grit wet dry sandpaper, available at most hardware stores..