Over oiled wooden bowl - what do I do?

[Vinca]

I found a gorgeous, huge, antique dough bowl today made of birdseye maple. Good condition, but it feels sticky as if there's too much oil on it. What's the best way to remove it?

[Duer 157099]

1. Good question, no answer here yet though

I have the same issue with many bowls I've been picking up recently. I didn't think it was over oiling though, I thought there was some sort of shellac that was deteriorating (but I really don't know much about wood, yet)

I have gotten some outstandingly beautiful wood pieces lately, so have to get up to speed on how to care for them.

[sandnsea]

2. Try some coarse salt

and maybe some vinegar. Somebody over in cooking was wondering what coarse salt was for, lol. If that doesn't remove the sticky, then you could give it a light sand with 120 paper and reoil it. I think the stickiness is just from bad care, overall. I bet the bowl is beautiful.

I got some great things today. A Brock "Forever Yours" plate, a Wood Ware bowl, several beautiful baskets, even a South Park Comedy Central mug. Most of it was .25 a piece. And a Christmas train for $1.00. The weather must be depressing people or something because people never sell stuff that cheap around here. Fun for me though!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. usually the "sticky" feeling comes from using a veg or nut oil which has gone rancid.......

wash with a diluted vinegar water wash and a gentle brush....dry immediately (repeat if nessecary} and then oil it with only food grade mineral oil.

nut oils and veggie oils are bad for wooden cutting boards, bowls and utensils.

[Vinca]

4. Thanks. It has a really nice patina and this method sounds

like it won't destroy it.