Indulgence - sandalwood tea table

[Geekgirl]

This table smells divine. I thought it was varnished, perhaps with some kind of marine grade varnish, but I can still smell the sandalwood.

Anyways, the question is, how do I maintain it and keep it looking as beautiful as it is right now when it's new? Furniture wax?

[Space Samurai]

...how do I maintain it and keep it looking as beautiful as it is right now when it's new?

Don't use it?

[Wesli]

Hah.. what Alex said.

Personally, I think it's such a nice table that it will only look better as it ages. Just remember to keep it dry. If you rinse and dry it off after every session, you shouldn't have a problem.

[Geekgirl]

Well I'm going to use it, probably daily, since it will be set up right by my desk at home. (Yay!) Drying it off is not an issue, I just know very little about maintaining something like this, wondered if I need to oil or wax it periodically.

Regardless, I love it.

[MarshalN]

If you use it everyday..... make sure you keep it in a moist place if you have to go on a long vacation or something, because mine cracked when I left it alone for two months.

[Geekgirl]

Good to know. Thanks!

[chamekke]

I don't know a thing about tea tables, but some oils and waxes can smell very strongly. That might interfere with your enjoyment of the tea.

With wooden kitchen utensils (e.g. knife handles), I usually use Clapham's Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish. It has a pleasant, light, beeswax scent and there is never any worry about its being toxic. Of course you are not drinking tea off your tea table, but still...

There are probably better solutions out there, but there's nothing quite like proposing an idea to encourage other people to pipe up with theirs

[Chip]

As long as it is not from RoT, no problem! But they would not have a sandalwood one anyway.

That is a real beauty. Sandalwood teaware...ftw! 9 years and counting since I started drinking tea...I should really have one.

[Geekgirl]

I usually use Clapham's Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish.

I've never heard of this, it sounds great!

Chip, get thee a table!

[Mary R]

I second the beeswax, but conditionally. A long time ago on Stephane's blog someone had discussed how a varnish-smelling tray completely destroyed their tea experience. Apparently if anything hot was placed on the surface, it would release the varnish smell all over again. If you're going to try to protect the piece, beeswax would do the job, but without an offensive odor.

The condition, though, is that I don't know the recommended way to protect sandalwood, but I've got a fuzzy memory of being told that it has to be treated carefully or the integrity of the wood is spoiled. I can't quickly find info on that now, but perhaps you could contact some furniture specialists?

[bi lew chun]

Love-a-ly.

[orguz]

Hi,

My mother has sandalwood which is used as incense. It is by nature very oily, I've seen it burn and you can see the oils come out and quite smoky. So i'd guess sandalwood doesn't require much care. I have a huge chunk that's not cut to smaller strips yet, and it hasn't cracked or shown signs of splitting, we've had it since 1985. One thing I do know; real sandalwood is rare and expensive! Regular gong fu brewing with its water spillage keeps it nice and moist anyway.

[Geekgirl]

One thing I do know; real sandalwood is rare and expensive! Regular gong fu brewing with its water spillage keeps it nice and moist anyway.

There are different types of sandalwood, right? The green is the most common and least expensive. Red sandalwood, the one that turns deep reddish purple with age- nearly black, is both rare and I believe protected. It would be unlikely to see something like that in your standard teashop, and would have cost many times what I paid for mine. Still, the one I got is so pretty, and has that wonderful sandalwood smell. I'm definitely enjoying it.

[orguz]

Yes, sandalwood has a nice fragrance. Probably with the hot water that spills onto your table it'll perfume it even more, enjoy. Here is a picture of 2 cups I received as a gift from a very generous Tea Purveyor.