Background
My neighbour had a set of wooden bowls that she no longer wanted. She had used them for general storage and holding plant pots over the years and had decided she no longer wanted them. She was intending to throw them out but offered them to me. I said i would take them and try to restore them and she could have them back if she wanted them.
The bowls were in good overall condition. They are made from sections of rubber wood glued together, oiled and then had a protective varnish type of coating applied. The joints were all sound and there was no open wood damage. All they needed was a good clean, sand down and oiling to make them attractive again.
The bowls were in good overall condition. They are made from sections of rubber wood glued together, oiled and then had a protective varnish type of coating applied. The joints were all sound and there was no open wood damage. All they needed was a good clean, sand down and oiling to make them attractive again.
The two smaller bowls were washed and dried. They were then sanded using very fine sand paper. The bowls were then washed and dried to remove all dust.
A first coat of mineral oil was applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the bowl using a clean cotton cloth. The oil was worked into the wood as evenly as possible.
The bowl was left to dry for 24 hours then a second coat of mineral oil was applied.
The photograph shows one bowl after restoration and the other after it has been washed and sanded.
Both these bowls were refurbished in less than one hour of work.
For about 3 hours effort, some sand paper and mineral oil these bowls are now back to how they originally looked with a deep luster and should give many more years service. It seems such a shame that without a little effort this wood was destined for the rubbish bin. Wood that has been grown on the other side of the world and shipped such a long way should be re-used or re-purposed into something useful. If the bowls cannot be used for their original function, a little effort could easily turn them into small lamp bases by turning them upside down and adding a light fitting for example. For the time being they will continue to be used as bowls once i have checked with my neighbour to see if she does not want them back now that she sees how attractive they are again!