Started a new bowl. It is a log the neighbor gave me. I think it is apple.

Also my finishing skills are very limited. So far I have finished everything with beeswax and friction polish. I don’t want to finish this one like that. What are some good oils or other finishes that will also give it a nice shine?

 

That should be beautiful when the finish is applied!

That's some pretty wood, if you plan to use the bowl I like most any kind of oil finish or even just bees wax.

 

 

Nice piece of wood.  Lots of color and character.  I Minwax use wipe on poly.  Bring it up to the shine you want with number of coats.

Nice one there . I have heard fruitwoods are prone to cracking but looks good right now. Finish for me depends on use. I ordinarily use Watco for most things. If planned for food walnut oil works great.

Mineral oil is also good, but I don't know if it will shine with a buffing.  I normally just coat the rolling pins and chopping boards with mineral oil.  Cooking oil of any kind is not a good choice as it will go rancid and smell.  Interesting question.  Now I need to try.  LOL

55 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

Mineral oil is also good, but I don't know if it will shine with a buffing.  I normally just coat the rolling pins and chopping boards with mineral oil.  Cooking oil of any kind is not a good choice as it will go rancid and smell.  Interesting question.  Now I need to try.  LOL

I do not think mineral oil will shine. It does not dry but is a petroleum distillate. Other finishes such as Watco and polyurethane go thru a process called curing which takes several days. This curing creates a hard surface. Mineral oil just stands on the surface but is good to repel most water that hits the surface for a period of time.

There are a couple commercial products that have wax and mineral oil and work pretty well. I use Howard’s Butcher Block Renewer. It’s available everywhere. It’s food safe but because of the wax you can buff it out to a little more gloss than regular mineral oil. The shine doesn’t last long with use but it looks good initially. 
Paul

That is a beauty, Rusty! The use of the turning usually dictates the type of finish, at least for me. For example, for a salad bowl, I'll use mineral oil and beeswax. I've tried walnut oil and liked the results but my wife said it has an objectionable odor- to her. For fruit bowls, candy bowls and general collecting bowls-  I've used wipe on poly, both gloss and semi gloss and danish oils.

I bought wipe on poly. Woodcraft didn’t have the Watco clear oil and I didn’t want to stain it.

I got the emblem glued in and first coat of wipe on poly done on the outside.

Looks good. Two suggestion on the medallion. Turn the grain direction to match bowl and use a wood with either match to bowl or much less prominent grain this will enhance the look you get there. Keep up the good work

1 hour ago, Gerald said:

Looks good. Two suggestion on the medallion. Turn the grain direction to match bowl and use a wood with either match to bowl or much less prominent grain this will enhance the look you get there. Keep up the good work

That is the back side of 1/4” birch plywood. The other side was used up experimenting. I was planning on using the good side when I get some more.

That is spectacular!

That is some beautiful wood and I like the medallion.

 

Beautiful!!!  

Very nice.  Looks like you got the sanding under control.

Now that's super nice Rusty!  How about a pic of the topside of the bowl with finish?

That is a gorgeous piece of wood ! Very nice turning Rusty !

Paul