Help - Old English wood oil

[liberty]

I have a few wooden guampas (i.e. like tea or coffee cups) that I use for drinking mate (i.e. like tea). The wood was starting to split but hadn't broke through, so I rubbed some O.E. wood oil into it in the hopes I'd still be able to use the items. The wood is better, but I can see that some parts have the oil all the way through to the inside part of the cup.

Does this mean I can no longer use them for drinking hot liquids? What do you gals think?

Is there another way to protect wooden food utensils from splitting, without spoiling them altogether? The wood is untreated, by the way...

[uk elephant]

Don't know if it helps, but when I was making wooden things in carpentry class in school we were told to use just ordinary vegetable oil to treat them which of course won't harm you if you ingest some. My parents still have a couple of plates I made and I think they are still holding up pretty well after almost 20 years. Of course they are not used for hot liquids, only hot pizza...

I'll ask my Argentinian friends how they treat their mate gourds and let you know...

[Blueberry]

I use either olive oil or mineral oil on my wooden utensils and cutting boards. So far, it has worked. Not sure how it would work on a cup, but I don't see why it wouldn't be fine...

[liberty]

So you think it would be dangerous to use the ones with the O.E. oil coming through?

[mimitabby]

find out what it is. remember, people DO ingest mineral oil, it's a laxative, but I don't know WHAT is in you OE oil.

[liberty]

Thanks, ladies for the help.

I checked the Household Info website, and it gives the MSDS for the lemon oil I used. It does say harmful or fatal if swallowed. The question is, rather than ingesting it directly in a semi-large amount, is the miniscule amount that seeped through to the interior of the cup enough to be harmful... Probably should just play it safe and not use the guampas anymore?

[HappyAnika]

If it were me I wouldn't drink out of them anymore.

It's very dry here and wood doesn't hold up well on its own. We use mineral oil on all of our kitchen wood stuffs. You can find food grade mineral oil in most kitchen stores. Just slather a bunch on with a brush or towel, let it sit for a half hour or so, then wipe off the excess. Wait a day or two, then wash in soapy water. Repeat as needed.

[liberty]

As always, the TE ladies are correct. Customer service flipped when I called and asked them... So, the answer is:We do not recommend you drink out of them. That's too bad, as they are very pretty. They will still be pretty as they sit on the mantle over the fireplace. Thankfully there is one I didn't ruin. Off to the store to buy food grade mineral oil.

[uk elephant]

Told BF about this question last night. According to him, the mate gourds do crack eventually. What the Argentinians do when they no longer hold water, is stretch a stomach lining (not sure from which animal) around the outside of it. It is then once again water tight and can be used for drinking more mate.

[Trek420]

I use this stuff on things like wood chopping bowls etc.

http://lamsonsharp.com/ts_kitchn_care.html

It's good, it's made in the U.S.A, it's packaged by veterans, it's food safe....they make a lot of other cool foodie stuff. 8-)

[Brandi]

I have no idea what these things are you are drinking out of? Can you take a picture for me. I have wooden salad bowls I use. They were my parents wedding gift. I think the oil from salad dressing keeps them in good condition.

[liberty]

Brandi- some people call them mate' gourds, other places call them guampas... Mate' and terere are definitely acquired tastes. But it grows on you.

http://www.miyerbamate.com/
http://greenleafimports.com/index.html

Here is an example of the ones I have. Made of wood.