Bought this Thuya Wood Bowl a couple weeks ago and its a little large for a shave soap. Therefore, I'm going to have to grate a soap, probably a couple Valobra shave sticks, to make them fit and would like to know whether I need to waterproof the inside of the bowl or not? If so, what do I use to waterproof?
Waterproofing a Wooden Shave Soap Container
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You probably shouldn't have to but you could probably go ahead and spray it with varnish. They sell it in spray cans just like paint. If you do seal it though make sure you seal the inside and the outside!
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Yeah...that's what I was thinking. I think the top has a varnish on it, see the shine. Maybe some Thompson's Water Seal.
Actually I hadn't even thought of the Thompson's!! That seems like it should work though!!
I recently made a bowl for my Tabac out of Walnut, spun on my lathe. I use Spar Varnish to seal stuff. Spar, typically used for marine stuff, is made with linseed oil so it has plenty of working time to penetrate and seal, but it takes days to dry. If you don't have the patience for that, spray it with lacquer or quick dry polyurethane.
I used wipe-on poly for my Creed bowl. Worked great.
I wouldn't use Thompsons. That stuff seems to work by staying oily, and I think it would end up in your soap.
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Good point! thanks.
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Didn't have a thread about your project? I remember someone refinishing a creed irish tweed wooden bowl.
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Can I use Rust-Oleum Polyurethane?
I also would use a wipe-on poly (Minwax makes one).
Somebody re-finished a vintage bowl. I just hit mine with a few coats. Not much of a project. Looks nice though.
I finished a Knize wooden bowl and pretty much is similar in shabby quality as my Creed bowl. Used Mahogany stain in a spray can and let them sit out all day in the sun so the smell can evaporate then sprayed it with a poly spray. Took a few days to get the smell out but it came out pretty slick.
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What kind of poly spray did you use?
I dunno about waterproofing it with all those chemicals dude... do you want that leeching stuff on your lather? water proof it with mineral oil. just sit it out in the sun filled with mineral oil for a couple of hrs. then empty it out and wipe it.
I dunno about waterproofing it with all those chemicals dude... do you want that leeching stuff on your lather? water proof it with mineral oil. just sit it out in the sun filled with mineral oil for a couple of hrs. then empty it out and wipe it.
+1
I've used mineral oil on a couple of bowls with pretty good success.
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I dunno about waterproofing it with all those chemicals dude... do you want that leeching stuff on your lather? water proof it with mineral oil. just sit it out in the sun filled with mineral oil for a couple of hrs. then empty it out and wipe it.
You bring up a very good point...I don't want chemicals in my lather and on my face. Looking up a description of mineral oil on the internet, wiki says..."It can also be used as a wood preservative. A light coating of mineral oil, rubbed into well-sanded wood, provides an easy-to-apply and relatively durable finish, without the odor or drying time (or toxicity) of varnish or urethane."
mineral oil, that sounded like the best way.
I'm glad I waited to read this thread before bring out the varnish! I was wondering about the smell and the chemicals
I'm glad I waited to read this thread before bring out the varnish! I was wondering about the smell and the chemicals
I use Minwax Polycrelic. When I stained it and let it dry I rubbed it down with a white towel until no color came off. I also waxed the top with a wax crayon and the stained took real nicely after I scrapped the stain off. it was a lighter stain and was a nice contrast and the Knize markings came through nicely.
I would also recommend a good wipe after the polycrelic to even it to an even shine.
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The only mineral oil I could find was used as a laxative, so I bought baby oil which listed mineral oil and fragrance as the ingredients. I guess it'll work?
