NATURAL

Wood is a natural material, in our humble view, the most noble natural material, and a true gift of nature. It is renewable, durable, flexible and strong, but it is also a living material, meaning it moves, it bends, it warps and changes colour. This is of course all part of its charm, and while we take steps to keep the material in check, it is important for our customers to remember that they have to maintain their bowls from time to time, or choose not to and watch its finish evolve over time.

Surface Finishes

We at Urban Turner are not a 'production' company, we make individual and unique pieces that evolve from the wood we source locally and have to hand. This means that our finishes vary, and in some instances we do not even apply any finishes at all in a bid to help the piece evolve over time through use and/or exposure - though we usually only do this for art pieces rather than bowls intended for food use. We use a range of food-safe oils and waxes, but if you are intending to use the bowls to eat from (and we recommend you to consider doing so!), please take note of the finish used on each piece. If you are unsure, please feel free to drop us a message to make sure.

Upkeep

We'd recommend that you refresh your oil finished items every 3 or 4 months, or as required to keep them nourished and looking at their best. To do this, simply apply a thin coat of food safe oil and allow it to absorb overnight. In the morning buff off any excess with a soft cloth. Walnut Oil, Corn Oil, Mineral Oil, Hemp Oil are all good options and are readily available to buy. Do not use vegetable oils such as Olive Oil as this will likely go rancid over time and generate an unpleasant smell and taste. Also, for people suffering nut allergies, Walnut Oil should be avoided. 

Your pieces should last a lifetime with just minimal upkeep and attention. Wipe down the bowls with a damp soapy cloth to clean and please, never put it in the dishwasher as this will ruin the surface finish, force water to seep into the grain and damage the piece.

Light Effects

Sunlight can have different effects on wood, the fading or darkening of the grain is not uncommon over time - actually, a change in the overall colour is inevitable over the lifetime of a wooden item. This cannot be prevented or reversed but avoiding exposure to strong or direct sunlight will slow the process. Contact with water may cause your piece to lose some of its surface shine and brilliance. If this happens refresh with a food safe oil as mentioned in the 'Upkeep' section. If using your piece at the table, some usual suspects like wine, vinegar, and beetroot can result in stains. While these will slowly fade or blend in over time, if you want to avoid stains, it is probably best to avoid serving such food and drink in your bowl.