Care for wood teatable

[Jayaratna]

Hi all,

I recently started using a wenge teatable: after some time of hot-water pouring on the surface, the table is like stained. Should I clean it in any way or use oil or wax on the table to prevent discolouring?

The wood is also smelling, is there any way I can get rid of this smell so that I'm able to keep my teapots upside down on the table to dry?

Thanks for your advices,

A

[Wesli]

Sounds kind of weird... Could you take pictures and/or describe what it smells like?

[wyardley]

If it's un-lacquered wood, I have heard it may be good to oil it. You'd want to make sure to get all the excess oil off afterward.. you wouldn't want the oil getting on your pots or anything.

If no one else knows, you should PM or email Phyll, because I know he oils his wengé table from time to time.

[Jayaratna]

It smells like something which have been travelling for a long time in posts deposits...
I can't take pictures of the smell, but the table is this (the picture comes from the ebay shop):

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd28 ... 1200718318

It's unlacquered wood. I use oil to keep my wood recordes so I could do the same for the table: but what oil should I use: which one does not smell?

Thanks!

[wyardley]

It's unlacquered wood. I use oil to keep my wood recordes so I could do the same for the table: but what oil should I use: which one does not smell?

That's pretty much the exact try Phyll has. I'm not sure how often he oils it.

I would suggest either mineral oil, or some other neutral kind of oil like the sort people use on wood spoons / bowls / etc. Don't use cooking oil.

[Intuit]

I suggest that you try a hard paste beeswax polish, and avoid using light oils. Unless you use only porcelain/china, you want a water-resistant finish that won't leach into your clay teaware.

Dry and buff up after each use. Reapply wax quarterly.